'r^ftVi !ti JrtViC:! ;rit7s>'d r'.iK' *j'> 



EMINISCENCES 







\UNTONi 



^i mi w m mmm m^ mwmmmMmmmi^mm m i 



f QiariesI^.Atoioocl. 





I LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, f 

Chap l ^.-L ri »l 

Shelf -Ja^tks^. i 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



^ :;^ ' :^;:^ ' ^ ' ^g^w^^^^;:^^gc!;:c^c^^:!a c 




-EngtYAH.Bitch^e- 



z^^, V^, 




REMINISCENCES 



TAUNTON 



IN TE A ULD LANG STNE. 



BY CHAEIES R. ATfl'OOD, 




TAUNTON: \^WASH\^^ 

I'KINTKI) AT Till:: KKl'lBUCAN STEAM rillXTIXG ROOMS. 
1880. 



^y. 



(Reminiscei^ces. 



ARTICLE I. 



As quite a number of correspondents have been giving 
their recollections of Taunton as it appeared in the early 
part of the present century, and have confined their com- 
munications principally to the locations of the streets and 
buildings, without giving the names of the owners, their 
business, occupations, social status, etc., I propose to go 
over the ground and supply, so far as I can, this omission, 
briefly, in a series of articles for the Repuhlican. As I have 
no records to consult, and nothing but memory to rely upon, 
it is quite possible that some inaccuracies and mistakes may 
be found in these reminiscences of the past, as they will be 
solely the recollections and impressions of early boyhood. 

THE OLD GRIST MILL. 

In giving the topography of the place as it appeared in 
1810 and succeeding years, we will commence at the Old 
Grist Mill located at the foot of the hill on the road to 
Westminster, opposite the old Brick Mill of Crocker Bros. 
& Co., recently torn down, leaving a further description of 
that portion of the toA\Ti to another time. The dam across 
the river was located where it now is, and there was a canal 
cut across the street, about half way up the hill, to conduct 
the water to the grist mill, and also to a fulling mill near 



4 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

the grist mill, where the farmers brought their home-made 
cloths to be prepared for use. The grist mill was owned by 
Col. Robert Grossman, living on the hill, in the house now 
standing, on the left of the road a little in the rear of the 
same, and nearly opposite the Winslow Church. Col. 
Crossmau was a prominent, wealthy and notable person, 
occupying responsible positions, was a deacon of the church, 
and the father of a numerous family, and many of his de- 
scendants are still among us. The old grist mill was an 
important institution in those days, and the farmers in the 
vicinity and all the families of the toAvn depended upon it 
for their rye and corn meal. It was constantly employed 
and was very profitable to its owner. The whole of that 
portion of the city now occupied and covered by dwelling 
houses, from the livery stable occupied by Messrs. Church 
& Burt to the Britannia Works, and extending west to the 
base of the hill, in the rear of the Baptist Church, was 
flooded, covering some acres of ground, with a small island 
ill the centre partly covered with underbrush and reaching 
to the main river, which ran in the same channel that it 
does now. This land was owned by the Colonel, and flood- 
ed in consequence of the dam built below by the Taunton 
Cotton Factory Co. It made a capital skating pond for the 
boys in winter. The grist mill flume emptied its waters in- 
to this basin below, which was used for watering horses 
very extensively, having an opening from the road where 
the teams and horses could drive down into the same and 
turn about Avith ease. In this basin "Uncle Jessie," the 
stage owner, had his horses regularly in the summer season, 
driven to swim, and it was the general custom in the toAvn 
at that time, for th.e owners of horses to swim them for 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 5 

their health and to keep them clean ; and a large portion of 
the horses owned in the town were regularly driven there to 
water. The boys had rare sport in riding these horses in 
the water. This locality, therefore, became both a neces- 
sity and a celebrity. 

CATCHING HERRINGS IN COHANNET STREET. 

There were two wooden bridges over the main stream, 
and a large hotel stable on the north of the road extending 
over the river some distance, which served as a railing for 
the bridges on that side. From these bridges there was 
good fishing at night for lamprey eels, and some other fish 
also were very plenty and easily caught with salted herring 
for the bait. At the end of the flume at the grist mill we 
boys used to watch the herrings as they came up in schools 
which darkened the waters when the mill was running'. 

o 

They followed the running of the grist mill stream up to the 
wheel, and then would fall back in such crowds as would 
enable us easily to catch them in nets and also with our 
hands. On the opposite side of the road where the main 
stream came over the dam there was great fishing in "her- 
ring time." There was below the dam a rough, stony pass- 
age, which the fishermen would line on either side by rolling 
in stones on which to stand. This passage they would ex- 
tend down the stream as far as the depth of the water would 
allow, for the herrings to enter on their way to the dam. 
The fishermen would then take their stands, scoop-net in 
hand, on both sides of the passage-way, having their baskets 
securely anchored in their rear ; and as the passage-way was 
necessarily narrow, when the herrings entered it they were 
crowded together in dense masses, and frequently in their 



6 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

struggles to get up to the dam would leap over each side of 
the passage-way, and could easily be taken by the hands. 
Here the fishermen would scoop them out during the jam, 
as fast as they could put in their nets. It took but a few- 
days for each man or boy to obtain sufficient supplies for 
the year. Very many familes in those days made depend- 
ence upon the cured herrings as their main stay during the 
year, and the old corn house, shed and barn were always 
lined with herrings strung on sticks for the purpose of dry- 
ing. In this condition they remained, always ready for use, 
thereby enabling the poorer classes at all times to have on 
hand an ample supply of healthy food during the season, at 
a nominal cost. And doubtless many families were saved 
from seeking help from the town during the long, protracted 
winters of those times, when the snow used to fall early in 
the season and remain late into spring ; wdien the days and 
nights were bitterly cold, with no coal or steam at hand, 
and nothing but half-built houses, large fire-places and wood 
fires to depend upon in order to keep at bay Jack Frost with 
his conglaciating breath and pinching fingers. 

RUM HOLLOW IN 1810. 

The river at that time had a small outlet or narrow chan- 
nel on a straight line with its present course, which separat- 
ed the main land at the foot of C/rossman's hill, below the 
stone bridge, from an island that run from east to west. A 
large portion of this island, as it then was, now makes a 
part of the main land, and is now occupied by Crocker 
Bros. & Co.'s nail mill and other buildings on Winthrop 
Street. The main river run around this island, passing 
in the rear of the Fisher hou^e, the Harris house, and the 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 7 

old Jail, on the north side, and the gardens of the Barunni 
house and the Porter house on the southeast, making a curve 
between these and the island until it swept completely 
around the latter and mingled with the waters of the straight, 
direct, and narrow channel before mentioned. 

The Fisher house was built about the year 1810 or 1811, 
and the other buildings were old settlers, all of the ancient 
order. The present Post Office building occupies a portion 
of what was the garden connected with these premises. 
There was no road at that time excepting the present Main 
street to the bridges. The Winthrop street, now passing 
the post office on the south, and leading by the Baptist 
church, was not then opened. The main river ran in a curve 
directly around the rear of the land now occupied by the new 
brick block of Galligan's, the Bristol County Bank, and the 
long brick block owned by 8. O. Dunbar and others. The 
Bristol County Bank and part of this last named block, 
stands upon the ground formerly occupied by the old Jail, 
and between this and the Harris house the laud was used 
for a garden. 

THE OLD JAIL. 

We must pause here to notice more particularly the old 
Jail. This structure had an extended celebrity in those 
early days, and was considered to be quite an institution. 
It was a two-storied wooden structure, running back from 
the street to the border of the river in the rear. The front 
portion of the building was occupied as a dwelling by the 
family of the keeper, and the rear as the jail department. 
There were four rooms fitted up for the occupants, but only 
three were used for this purpose. The third room was on 



8 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

the lower floor, and not being then needed for the prisoners, 
was utilized as a kitchen for the family. The other room 
on the same floor and adjoining this, was set apart for 
prisoners of the milder hue. The room on the second story, 
directly over this, was the strong room, fitted for the more 
desperate class of prisoners, and the room over that occupi- 
ed as a kitchen, was allotted to those who were imprisoned 
for debt, as in those days a man or woman who could not 
pay a debt was liable to be shut up in jail unless they "could 
swear out according to law," or were discharged, at the will 
of the creditor. We have made some progress in civiliza- 
tion, doubtless, since that time, but the trouble is, that the 
biggest kind of rascals that we now have, escape their just 
deserts (which would have been meted out to them under 
the old law, without let or hindrance,) by pleading irregu- 
larities, unintentional defalcations and speculations, with 
the best of honest intentions, &c. There was no provision 
made for separate apartments for the females, and we sup- 
pose this was owing to the honest supposition of the proba- 
ble impossibility of any such provision ever being needed. 
But we have seen young females occasionally confined in 
the same room with a number of males in the old Jail. 
This is not very creditable to the moral or humane instincts, 
or the refined and cultured characters of our early predeces- 
sors. But nevertheless, they had their good points, and in 
many important respects were far ahead of us, their descend- 
ants, and we are bound, charitably, to overlook their short- 
comings in many respects. But to return to the room 
occupied as the kitchen, which has left the deepest impres- 
sions in my memory. There, Avith the boys of the keeper 
of the Jail, lots of us young cliaps used to spend our even- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON 9 

ings, eating roasted potatoes from the big kitchen fireplace, 
telling stories, and listening to tlie evening singing of the 
family in the house. Mr. Abiezer Dean, the keeper of the 
house, was a singing-master, and taught singing-school ; 
and he had a large family of young girls, as well as boys, 
all of whom were natural singers, and very fond of music. 
The boys were not only all good singers, but were accom- 
plished and expert instrumental players, and two of them 
belonged to the Taunton Band, Avhich then was celebrated 
far and near for its proficiency in instrumental music, and 
which was for years regularly engaged on important occa- 
sions and celebrations, and also yearly by the students of 
Brown University to perform escort duty on Commence- 
ment day. The family had, almost every evening, a social 
gathering for sacred music, singing, and these occasions 
were made very pleasant for all those present Avho were 
fond of music. 

The old Jail was not a very secure institution, and the 
prisoners quite frequently would break out during some 
dark and stormy night. The structure being of "^^ood, the 
timbers of the walls were protected by bars of iron spiked 
across the same, about half an inch thick and two or three 
inches wide. The windows were secured by grate-bars 
of ordinary dimensions. Sometimes the prisoners would 
cut the bars on the walls, keeping the boards which covered 
them in place during the daytime to prevent discovery ; and 
sometimes they would cut the bars on the windows and 
fill up the spaces with something to deceive the eye. 

When the prisoners had prepared the way for leaving 
their quarters, they would wait for a dark and stormy night 
to make a final exit. There was always great anxiety with 

2 



10 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

regard to safety of the prisoners after they had beeu sen- 
tenced to the State Prison and were waiting for the prison 
wagon to arrive, to transport them to that port of security 
and rest. A strict watch was kept each night during the 
session of the Supreme Court, held twice a year, at which 
they had their trials also ; and quite frequently attempts 
were made at this time to break out, and alarms were given 
and people called up in the night to handcuff and make se- 
cure the leading spirits of the gang. The Old Jail, as far 
as security was concerned, was not much better than an old 
basket. There were always more or less debtors in jail 
who had the liberty of the yard, as it was termed. Any 
debtor could obtain this privilege, by getting a bondsman 
for the security of the debt against him, in case he should 
escape or go beyond the prescribed limits of the liberty of 
the yard. In those days manufacturing here w^as in its in- 
fancy, and the chances for work by these confined debtors 
were quite limited. But the shoemaker, tailor, blacksmith 
and carpenter, and some others, could generally find some- 
thing to do by which^ during their confinement, they could 
turn an honest penny. The larger number who had no trade, 
were employed in heading nail points cut for that purpose. 
There were a number of presses for the heading of these 
nails in the jail yard ; and the store-keepers furnished the 
blank points and paid the men for heading the same. The 
iron used was the best Russian, rolled into plates and cut 
up in our rolling and slitting mills, one of which was loca- 
ted where the brick mill now stands, and the other at Hope- 
well, near Reed & Barton's britannia works. The mill at 
Hopewell was formerly owned by Hon. Samuel Leonard. 
The cast iron plates from which nails are now made, would 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 11 

not have answered the purpose for heading by hand. All 
the nails used for building purposes at that time were made 
of wrought iron and hammered by hand. The other debtors 
who had trades worked at the same whenever any jobs of- 
fered. There were always more or less prisoners in the 
jail who were pleasant, social, jolly fellows, ever ready to 
talk and tell their stories to the boys, and to describe their 
wonderful achievements aud hair-breadth escapes. I re- 
member one in particular, who was confined a long time. 
He was a sailor, and he used to sing his favorite sea songs 
in summer evenings to the boys, who would climb up and 
sit on the fence in front of one of the windows in his room, 
like a flock of blackbirds, listening to the same ; and he 
seemed willing always to amuse us, when we called to him 
so to do. We missed him sadly after he was taken awav. 



articlp: II 



NOTORIOUS CHARACTERS. 



Among the notorious characters of our old jail was one 
George White. There was a good old motherly lady who 
lived at Weir Bridge, who was blessed with a son who was 
a great rogue — up to all kinds of fun, frolic and general 
mischief. He loved to hunt and run away from school, to 
steal his mother's doughnuts and borrow his neighbors' ap- 
plet. His mother, when on the search for him, used to ask 
if any one had seen her George White. Perhaps some of 



12 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

the elders at the Weir may remember who he was. He fre- 
quently honored the institution by a brief residence in the 
same. He was celebrated as the great horse-stealer of the 
times, and known far and wide for his reputation for horse- 
stealing and jail breaking. He never remained long after 
he was committed. Although strictly watched and often 
searched for his tools, he managed always, sooner or later, 
to turn up missing some dark and rainy morning. The 
other prisoners did not always succeed in getting out 
through the same hole that George did, either on account of 
their size or the want of the India rubber construction of 
the said George. There was another very notable charac- 
ter confined there also, for the murder of his wife. His sen- 
tence was for life. The man was a Capt. Bray ley, who had 
commanded a whale ship and formerly resided, I think, in 
Nantucket. He committed the felony in a state of insanity, 
and his sentence was therefore imprisonment for life, instead 
of the death penalty. The Captain always styled him- 
self the true God, and would not answer to any other name. 
He talked to himself almost incessantly when alone. His 
beard was never cut after he entered the jail ; it was very 
full and heavy, and reached nearly to the floor. He was 
generally mild and harmless, and occupied or amused him- 
self by either w^alking or looking out the windows. He re- 
mained in jail until the Worcester Hospital was built, a 
period of about twenty years, and he was then transferred 
to the hospital where, after many years, he died. He still 
claimed, while in the hospital, to be the true God, and that 
he had made all things above and below. On one occasion, 
it is stated, that while in conversation with a visitor, the 
railroad train rushed thundering by the hospital, while the 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 13 

locomotive sent up amid its smoke aud fire ODe of those un- 
earthly screeches from its steam whistle, which sets all the 
nervous System in a shiver. Whereupon the visitor asked 
the Captain if he made that engine ; and the Captain prompt- 
ly replied, no, that he did not make that machine, but that 
the devil had built it. Perhaps the Captain might have 
thought that his imperial majesty would, sofoner or later, 
need it for the purpose of transporting his ever increasing 
patrons to the fresh fountains, green pastures and perpetual 
sunshine of his happy domains. But I have lingered too 
long perhaps, around the old jail aud the pleasant incidents 
and experiences connected with its memory. 

OLD HOUSES. 

The Fisher house, mentioned at the first, on the east side 
of the river and near the bridges, was built by Elias Fisher, 
and the old elm tree which still overshadows it was famous 
even then for its age and size. Mr. Fisher carried on the 
business of makiug hats. The hats in those days, in small 
towns, were generally sold by the makers at the manufac- 
tory. He also moved his sliop on the spot now occupied by 
a building for the brass foundry and the plumbing business, 
and fitted it up for manufacturing purposes and also as a 
salesroom. Mr. Fisher was a remarkably smart and ener- 
getic business man ; his reading was quite extensive and his 
general intelligence much above the ordinary level. He al- 
w^ays wanted, however, to "skipper" everything that requir- 
ed "skippering," and made himself sometimes subject to 
adverse criticism by assuming command and giving orders, 
where he was simply an intruder. The familiar sobriquet 
of Lord Fisher was generally accorded him. But notwith- 



14 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

standing this, his suggestions were generally correct, in the 
main. He was for many years the leader of the old Taunton 
Band, and prominent among the members of the old fire- 
engine company, of which he was for a long time the cap- 
tain. The house mentioned as the Harris house wa& occu- 
pied, and I think, then owned by Capt. Benj. Harris, who 
I believe, was a sea captain. It was subsequently occupied 
by Aunt Molly Fish, as she was termed, who was the moth- 
er of Aunt Hannah Fish, who w^as the only milliner in the 
town, I think, at that time. She had her shop between the 
house and the premises of the old jail. Here she made the 
bonnets and the dresses for the fair maids and married ladies 
of Taunton in the long ago, when the bonnets covered the 
entire caputs and the calico dresses required seven yards, 
and the silk dresses ten yards of material, both five-eighths 
of a yard in width. But in these more fashionable days and 
times, ten to twelve yards of calico and twenty to thirty 
yards of silk, (to say nothing of puffs, gimcracks and furbe- 
lows,) are none too much for the purpose of beautifying and 
adorning the lithe, supple, undulating, ethereal and expen- 
sive, little, lovely bodies of the celestial beings who make 
our households happy and our hearts and pockets limp and 
light. But this is an enlightened and progressive age, and 
that must account, to some extent, for the change. The 
house next east of the jail — called, I think, at that time, the 
Barnum house — was then occupied by Hilliard Earl, Esq., 
who was a prominent merchant, a jolly, social, pleasant 
companion, and a partner in the dry goods and grocery busi- 
ness with the Hon. Judge Fales, doing business in the green 
store on the opposite side of the present City Square, of 
which we shall speak when we reach that localitv. The 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 15 

house was subsequently purchased by Nathaniel Crandell, 
who built a baking house and prosecuted the bakery busi- 
ness there for many years, and subsequently went into the 
mercantile business in the old Simeon Tisdale store. The 
next building was the tavern house of John Porter, long 
known and celebrated for its good accommodations, espec- 
ially for the best of feather beds, and particularly for the 
excellent toddy mixed by skillful hands at the bar. There 
was a spot upon the counter where the tumblers were placed 
for the man who plied the toddy-stick to manipulate the con- 
tents thereof, which was worn down into a hollow space of 
some inches in depth, and a similar spot where the feet of 
the bar-keeper stood on these occasions. These I have seen 
and therefore speak by the book. Mr. Porter always wore 
a deep, green colored skull-cap, which came down to his 
ears, and on top of this he placed one of those old-fashioned, 
steeple-crowned hats, which made his head appear a little 
outre. His face was rather forbidding in appearance. He 
was a deputy sheriff also, which, in those times, was an 
office that not only commanded respect, but invested the 
occupant with a good deal of "scare" power and influence, 
and he was therefore looked upon by some part of the com- 
munity with considerable fear and trembling. Many poor 
debtors often gave him a wide berth when they chanced to 
see him on the road mounted on his old horse, with his 
green cap and tall hat in the ascendant. He was familiarly 
called "Old Porter," and when the old folks wanted to scare 
the boys, they threatened to send "Old Porter" after them. 
But Mr. Porter was a likely, substantial, reliable man, a 
large owner of real estate, and considered rich in those days. 
I have often been amused on the Sabbath by watching his 



16 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

old green cap as he sat at the head of his pew, towering up 
like a light house with a green revolving light on the top. 
He was a strict attendant at church and very rarely absent, 
taking great interest in the services. In the front room of 
his house, on a pannel ahove the lire place, there Avas a 
painting which represented all the buildings that encircled 
the "Common" or ''Green," as it was then called. When 
the old house was torn down this painting was taken out, 
and is in the possession of Mr. S. A. Williams. It is an in- 
teresting relic of the past, containing an exact picture of the 
Green and its surroundings, and should either adorn the 
walls of the City Hall or Public Library. The next build- 
ing was the Weatherby tavern, fronting the Green on the 
north, the end running parallel with what was then called 
Jocky lane, now Weir street, and leading to the Weir. This 
house was an old tavern stand, known and celebrated far 
and near for many years before. The owner was a man of 
property and gave up the house, I think, to his son, Charles 
Weatherby, who was a lively lark, jolly, fresh and free with 
money, who made things whistle for a time. Soon after he 
retired, the house was taken by George B. Atvvood, who 
moved from Dighton in the spring of 1808. 



RE31IN1SGENCES OF TAUNTON. 17 



ARTICLE III. 



TAUNTON IN STAGE COACH TIMES. 

In 1808 lines of stages, owned by Jesse Smith, had com- 
menced running, and the Weatherby tavern was the head- 
quarters for them. Here the teams were kept and the driv- 
ers all boarded. There were lines running from Boston 
via Taunton to New Bedford and Newport, making trips 
each way three times a week, giving ns the Boston papers 
tri-weekly. Uncle Jesse, the proprietor, then reguh'\rly 
mounted the box and drove his own team. He succeeded 
Mr. Russell, who established the first line of stages from 
NeAV Bedford to Boston, taking also his mail contracts and 
establishing several new lines. No mail contractor fulfilled 
his contracts with more regularity and fidelity. i\Ir. Mc- 
Lean, when Post Master General, pronounced him the first 
on the list. There was also, soon after, a line of stages 
started for Providence and connecting with these lines. 
These stage lines continued to increase in numbers and also 
in their trips. But we shall speak of them hereafter, in 
their regular turn. This tavern was kept by Mr. Atwood 
about three years, Avhen he gave it up and took the Taun- 
ton Hotel, previously kept by Isaac Dow, an Irishman, and 
a very gentlemanly and popular landlord, who had removed 

3 



18 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

to Newport and opened a hotel there, which was one of the 
first in the place and was liberally patronized. We shall 
speak of Taunton Hotel when we reach it in due course. It 
must be borne in mind that we are now travelling on one 
side of the street from west to east, and shall return with 
our narrative on the other side. Jocky lane, mentioned in 
the last article, was the site of two small cottage houses on 
the east side, one of which was occupied by Mrs. Weather- 
by, and the other by old Mrs. Shores, whose business was 
making ginger bread and buns. She was always found 
upon the ground on all public occasions surrounded by her 
toothsome condiments, and generally made sad inroads upon 
the pockets of the boys, whose pennies were freely disburs- 
ed for her tempting cakes and buns. On the same side, near 
the mill stream, was the Factory store, and opposite that 
was the Factory, then just built for spinning yarn, and 
among the first started in the country. The land on either 
side of this lane was cultivated for grass and used as gar- 
dens. The new road leading to the Weir was not then 
opened. The old road run to the right hand over the hill 
where Mr. Swazey's house and a number of others now 
stand, connecting with Bow street leading to the Weir. 
Crossing Jocky lane, (now Weir street,) on the corner 
fronting both streets, was the first building, then occupied 
by Robert Dean, Esq., as a dry-goods and variety store. 
This was a gambrel-i'oofed building, one and a half stories 
high. I have no recollection who the occupant was my- 
self, but I learn from others the fact stated above. Mr. 
Dean not long after purchased the store east of Skinner & 
Co., and continued business there many years. I well re- 
collect that subsequently the counting room was occupied for 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 19 

a short time by Asa Danforth, Esq., who was a notabki mau 
and treasurer of the First Congregational Society, and keep- 
er and weigher of the public hay-scales. He was also an 
auctioneer, sealer of weights and measures, a Justice of the 
Peace, having in charge also the meeting house and the 
regular ringing of the bell at noon and nine o'clock each 
night. This service was performed by his sons, the young- 
er supplying the places of the elders as they gave up the 
charge, one after another. 

OLD TIME PREACHING. 

The treasury of parish societies in former days was not 
always full to overflowing, notwithstanding the salaries of 
ministers averaged from six hundred to eight hundred dol- 
lars per year, instead of averaging from four thousand to 
ten thousand dollars per year, as they now do in the wealthy 
cities and toAvns ; and notwithstanding also, a good deal of 
the preaching of the present day is of a very indifferent kind 
and much inferior in texture and quality to the sound, prac- 
tical teachings of the former days. Sensational declama- 
tiou on subjects more appropriate for the lycenm, the hust- 
ings, or public celebrations, with advertisements or editorial 
notices in the newspapers, stating the subjects of the dis- 
courses, for the purpose of drawing full houses from the 
highways and by-ways, Avithout much apparent regard to 
the spiritual interests of the liearers, — were not in fashion 
HI the elder days of the pulpit here, nor elscAvhere. This is 
an indication that something is tlie matter Avith the pulpit 
or the people. But we have Avandered aAvay from the 
treasury of the past to the preaching of the present. We 



20 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

refer again in this article to Mr. Danforth as treasurer, for 
the purpose of relating the following anecdote : The good 
and Reverend John Pipon, of blessed memory, was our pas- 
tor at this time. He was a man of more than ordinary abil- 
ity, — winning and magnetic in his manners and social inter- 
course, — open, childlike and guileless, with a generous heart, 
full of love and sympathy for all, and charitable to a fault, 
giving of his slender means frequently when they should 
have been appropriated for furnishing a decent and proper 
wardrobe for himself. He was the successor of John Fos- 
ter, and ordained in 1800. It was exceedingly difficult for 
him to keep a dollar in his pocket, — the first begger that ac- 
costed him always got it, provided that he had nothing of 
smaller value on hand, and even then it made but little dif- 
ference with him, whether the silver dollar or the quarter 
went. Consequently he was always poor or short of ready 
cash. He never, however, proclaimed from the pulpit or 
elsewhere the amount of his gifts of charity. And quite 
•frequently in cases of emergency he found himself minus or 
hard up, as the saying is. On the occasion referred to above, 
he wanted to go to Cambridge to attend Commencement, 
and he called on Mr. Danforth, the treasurer, for his money 
to defray expenses. The treasurer very blandly informed 
him that he was entirely empty, "dry as the remainder bis- 
cuit after a voyage," and that he had no ready money of his 
own on hand, and did not know when or where he could 
raise or realize a dollar from taxes due. Of course this was 
a great disappointment to our good minister. He left the 
othce of the treasurer therefore, very much disconcerted and 
doubtless somewhat chagrined. He was a person, however, 
of a good deal of natural humor and fond of a joke always. 



EEMimSCENCES OF TAUNTON. 2\ 

On leaving the office and entering the street, he chanced to 
meet master D. G. W. Cobb, then a youth and the son of 
Gen. Cobb, then a resident in Taunton, and the grandfather 
of the present Mayor of Boston, who inherits not a small 
portion of the family pluck, with its independence, decision 
and firmness. He called to George, — as he w^as known and 
addressed by his second name always, — and asked him 
wdiere his father was. George replied tliat he did not know, 
but w^ould look him up if he wished to see him. Mr. Pipon 
answered that it was "not absolutely necessary, as he ovJy 
wanted him to do a little independent swearing just then on 
his account." There has been a marked improvement in 
this department since that time, and some of the ministers 
are supplied voluntarily with professional and habitual 
swearers — geniuses of the chimpanzee or gorilla caste, who 
not only do their own sw^earing, but that of both minister 
and society ! Possibly it may become necessary to provide 
permanent officers of this class for the churches, if we con- 
tinue the present line of progress in morality and civiliza- 
tion, incident to some of the ground and lofty tumbling of 
the pulpit in these days. 

GENERAL COBB. 

Gen. Cobb was Lieut. Governor in 1809, Speaker of the 
House from 1789 to 1791, and President of the Senate from 
1802 to 1805. The General was very blunt in his manners 
and not unfrequeutly garnished his conversation and senten- 
ces with a round oath or two. He w as the Judge of the 
Court here in the time of the Shay rebellion, and had the 
millitary drawn up in front of the Court House with a can- 



22 RE3nmSCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

noD in front of the door. The cannon was loaded with balls 
and powder, and "Pop Wood," a notable character at that 
time, was placed in command of the same with a burning 
flambeau in his hand and ready to apply it at the word of 
command. ""Pop" was a nick-name — his real name being 
Isaac. The General had made proclamation that he would 
either sit as a Judge or die as a General on that memorable 
day, and the good people expected a serious time. But the 
8hay tatterdemalions were scared and soon biT)ke up their 
ranks in a dilapidated condition, many of them, it was said, 
in a bad sanitary condition and sadly needing very thorough 
and efficient ablutions. The line of Government troops was 
formed on the north side of the Green, commencing at the 
Court House, situated near the present site, and continuing 
in front of the houses on the north until it reached the road 
on the corner now occupied by the City Hotel. The rebels, 
under command of Shay, formed their line of battle in the 
main street on the opposite side of the Green, extending east 
and w^est from the present City Square awaiting orders to 
attack the enemy in front. The late Hon. William Baylies 
informed the Avriter that he was then a boy and came up 
from Dighton w^ith his father's hired man, who was one of 
the volunteers on that occasion. The men remained in line 
of battle for some hours before the Shay rebels ran away, 
and during the time they were on duty he relieved his fath- 
er's man for a short time, taking his gun and his place in 
the ranks. He said that he felt quite proud in consequence 
of occupying the position of a soldier on that occasion, and 
used to relate the important ftict to the other boys with not 
a little pride and satisfaction. To return to our topography 
again, we And the next building adjoining the Dean store to 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 23 

be a small one-story structure, occupied by Asa Danfortli, 
Esq., as an office for the holding of all the lamb-skin courts, 
incident to those days. All trivial matters, crimes and of- 
fences were adjudicated in his court, and some of his decis- 
ions were rather severely criticised by the counsel who lost 
their cases. On one occasion, at a later period, a "case was 
tried before him, when one of the counsel was the late Judge 
Merrick, who was then a young man practicing law in this 
place. He represented the defendant, and the evidence was 
so strong and clear in his favor, that all persons present had 
no doubt of his acquittal. But the Esquire was noted for 
his strict regard for the public weal, and it was thought that 
his decisions generally were apt to be in favor of the State 
and against the defendant. On this occasion the case was 
so clearly on the side of the defendant that all parties sup- 
posed of course, that the decision would be in his favor. But 
to the surprise of the audience the case was decided against 
him and he was bound over to answer to a higher tribunal. 
AVhereupon Mr. Merrick, feeling naturally indignant and 
disappointed, and being rather quick and impulsive in his 
temperament, charged his Honor with being "a greater 
jackass than he had previously thought him to be !" This 
of course was a serious comtempt of court, and subjected the 
offender to imprisonment at the discretion of the Justice. 
But he very calmly passed it with the remark, "that he 
guessed he was'nt a greater jackass than some other folks." 
The occurrence created considerable discussion and much 
humorous remark among the profession for some time after- 
wards. And the reply of the Justice to the charge of the 
counsel, formed the subject of conversation in the village for 
a long time, some claiming that the dignity of the court 



24 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

should have been maintained and the offender summarily 
punished, and others taking the opposite view. But the ex- 
citement, like all others, ceased in due time. The next 
building in order was an old-fashioned, gambrel-roofed 
structure, about a story and a half high. The front part 
was occupied at this time as a grog-shop, where the thirsty 
could get their regular "bitters" and while away their even- 
ings by smoking and loafing, while discussing the exciting 
topics of the day. A few articles of household use were al- 
so kept in the store, together with a general assortment of 
sugar-plums and candy. Here, all the coppers that came 
into my possession, vanished like the morning dew for these 
attractive, youthful condiments. The proprietor of the store 
was Tisdale Carver, a young man highly respected and very 
popular among all classes. He died young, after a short 
sickness, and was much regretted by all who knew him. 
This building Avas among* the mo&t ancient land-marks of 
the town. It was kept as a store and tavern in 17G0, (and 
how long before 1 do not know,) by Robert Caldwell, who 
did an extensive business and was interested in navigation, 
owning a part of the brig "Cook" in company with one 
Henry Bowers. The brig first sailed from Newport in 1771 
on her voyages. These facts I gathered from his old books 
in my possession. Mr. Caldwell must have been considered 
one of the prominent merchants in those early days. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 25 



ARTICLE IV. 



ACCOUNTS OF OLD SETTLERS. 

In onr last we describecl the old Caldwell house, and we 
now give a couple specimens of accounts taken from Mr. 
Caldwell's books for the benefit of the rising generation : 

1769. ELIJAH DEAN Tg R. CALDWELL. £ s. d. 



Mar. 


29, 


^ Bush, oisters. 




9 


Ap. 

1770 

Jan. 


12, 
.21, 

14, 


1 lb. Loaf sugar, 
1 pr. pinch back buckles, 
Rum to make todle with, 
1 qt. Rum, 


1 
4 

1 


4 




25, 


Rum to make todic with. 




4 


Fel). 


29, 
4, 

6, 
10, 


Do. as per do.. 

Do as per do., 

Rum as per day book. 

Rum to make todie with. 




8 
8 
4 
4 


Mar, 


■ 1, 


Do. do., two times. 


1 






8, 


Do. to make todie with. 




4 




11, 


Do. do., as per day book, 




4 




22, 


Do. do., as per day book, 
^ Gal. rum per book. 


2 


4 



In this account the rum charges are selected and the oth- 
er items generally omitted. The people seemed to be as dry 
then as now. 

4 



26 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



ROBERT GROSSMAN Dr. to R. 


CALDWELL, 






1796. 






£ 


s. 


d. 


Jan. 31, To 1 kaise knives & forks, 








5 


6 


July 10, " 1 crooked comb, 










10 


26, " calimaiico & binding. 








1 


2 


Aug. 16, "1 lb. chocolate. 








1 


8 


Oct. 30, " 1 yd. black shalloon, 








2 


8 


Dec. 6, " paying woman for a goose, 








1 


4 


June 12, " Riding my mare to Col. Leonard' 


sand 








some miles further. 






2 





Cr. 
July 6, By 2 mugs todd}^, (queer Cr. this), 1 4 

It will be seen here that the names of dry goods have 
changed in the course of a century, and that the price of 
geese 100 years ago was one shilling and four pence, say 
about 23 cents. What will l^^essrs. Wilmarth and Messrs. 
White say to that? It seems that two mugs of toddy amount- 
ed to just the price of a goose. The goose must have been 
the cheapest of the two, although without doubt they made 
good toddy in those days. The above items are selected 
merely as specimens of the running account and the spelling, 
etc. In another account there is a charge, March 12, 1769, 
for cash paid for two partridges for Charles Barstow, — 8d., 
say 1 1 cents. This is cheap for partridges ; see price cur- 
rent in the papers. Mr. Barstow is also credited with one 
wig for Stephen Shaw, (who was probably a minister or 
deacon,) £1 4s. What will the ladies, who pay anywhere 
from five dollars to twenty-five dollars for chignons, think 
of this ? The charo;e for three dozen e^":s was also one 
shilling, or 16 2-3 cents. There Avere probably no fancy 
hens in the market then, nor eggs which brought a dollar per 
dozen as now. Two pounds butter and one fowl are charg- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. '21 

ed at Is. lid., not fifty cents quite! 10 lbs. niuttou for 2 
shillings, or 33 cents. 7^ lbs. beef for Is. 3d. Only think 
of it — less than 3 cents per pound for beef, — market men 
take notice ! The charge per mug for some kind of drink 
not named, was a shilling for a mug and a half. The price 
for a nip was 4d. only and the liquor was better then than 
now, and delirium tremens less common or unknown. 

A LADY OF OLDEN TIME. 

The next building was a store kept by Simeon Tisdale, a 
very worthy gentleman, who transacted a profitable busi- 
ness in the various articles of trade, and was a man of prop- 
erty. He owned and lived in the large, two-story house, 
formerly standing where the house of Judge Fox now 
stands. His family were of the Sandermainian order ; and 
this denomination, being confined to two or three families, 
they held their services in the houses of those of this faith. 
Mrs. Tisdale was an immensely large woman, and not be- 
ing able to get into an ordinary carriage, she had one built 
Avith a simple platform of planks, running on wooden wheels 
about eighteen inches in diameter. Upon this unique phae- 
ton a large chair was placed, and she could easily step up on 
the platform of the carriage. There was no danger of the 
chair moving while she was in it ; and in this carriage she 
was drawn by a horse on the walk from her own house to 
that of her friend of similar faith, Mr. Isaac Washburn, on 
each succeeding vSunday. These people, notwithstanding 
their antinomian principles, which supersede the necessity 
of good works, seemed to set an example which the Christ- 
ians of the present day would do well to imitate. 



28 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

CROCKER, BUSH & RICHMOND. 

The next buildiug was a large two-story structure, occu- 
pied as a dwelling-house in the second story and as a store 
below. The store was owned by Crocker, Bush & Rich- 
mond, and probably opened in connection with, and for the 
convenience and benelit of their factory at Whittenton. The 
store was large and amply filled with all kinds of goods, 
both for their workmen and the general public. Messrs. 
Bush and Richmond were then in their prime, and both of 
them remarkably smart and energetic business men. Mr. 
Crocker was the mentor, furnishing both brains and capital 
for the benefit and use of the juniors. He was a quiet, far- 
seeing and sagacious man, and among the first in establish- 
ing the manufacturing interests -here, which have so rapidly 
developed and increased for the last half century. The city 
owes much to the old firm of Crocker, Bush & Richmond 
for its present wealth and population, and also for its repu- 
tation as a manufacturing centre, and for the various, di- 
versified and celebrated kinds of goods manufactured here. 
For many years this firm was the first in all new enter- 
prises, and gave an impetus to all branches of manufacture, 
which added rapidly to the population, wealth and prosper- 
ity of the place. 

AN ATTEMPT TO MONOPOLIZE EVERYTHING. 

But, as it is too often the case, prosperity blinded them 
to their true interests, and they undertook to monopolize 
all the manufacturing business. To this end, they entered 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 29- 

into competitioD aud undersold ail the parties of small 
meaus, or wliatever branches of business the latter under- 
took ; thus breaking down and monopolizing the trade, and 
preventing a healthy increase and prosperous prosecution of 
the various branches of manufacture which give life and 
vigor, growth aud population to a town. Not content with 
this kind of interference, they also bought up all the real es- 
tate which they could get near the centre and outskirts of 
the village, and held it at prices beyond the reach of per- 
sons of limited means ; thus preventing the building of those 
small houses which add so much to the growth of a place, 
and at the same time securing permanent and desirable 
classes of population. This was an extremely short-sighted 
policy for themselves and greatly retarded the permanent in- 
crease of our population and manufactures. Owing largely 
to this policy may be attributed the final disasters and fail- 
ure which befel them. In the great pauiQ and suspension 
of specie payments in the year 1837, when money was not 
to be had and universal distrust prevailed, they found their 
house hampered by the possession of large amounts of real 
estate which suddenly fell in value, and on which little or 
nothing conld be realized. And in consequence of this, 
they w^ent down with a crash, shaking the credit and inter- 
ests of our town from centre to circumference and seriously 
depleting the coffers of the bank also. They made ineffect- 
ual attempts to start anew, but after a few years trial went 
into bankruptcy and their propert}^ was thrown upon the 
market. This gave a chance for parties in all branches of 
business to obtain real estate at lower prices ; and since that 
time the business and prosperty of the town has rapidly in- 
creased and is still iucreasine:. 



30 RE^IINISGENCES OF TAUNTON, 



THE APPRENTICE OF SIXTY YEARS AGO. 

The next building beyond that of Crocker, Bush & Rich- 
mond, \A\as the furniture shop of Isaac Washburn ^vith his 
building for manufacturing purposes adjoining, in the rear. 
Mr. Washburn carried on this business extensively, having 
a monopoly of it for a long time. In his front shop he kept 
the various articles incident to his trade, for sale. In his 
Avorkshop he generally had some three or four apprentices, 
besides the journeymen. In those days the parents were 
always glad to put out their boys to some trade, and they 
had to serve seven years for their board, thirty dollars a 
year, and a neAV suit of clothes when their time expired. 
By following this course the public was furnished with fin- 
ished and competent workmen, who knew their business 
thoroughly and did their work promptly. At the present 
day it is only necessary for a man to work a few months 
with some of the mechanics in the various branches of busi- 
ness, just about long enough to learn the names of the tools, 
Avhen he is ready to put himself into the market as a good 
Avorkman, asking only the moderate sums of from three to 
live dollars per day. And owing to this kind of shoddy 
work, the finished workman AA^ho has spent seven years to 
prepare himself as a thoroughly competent mechanic, finds 
himself put in competition Avith a class of workmen entirely 
incompetent and unfit for the business they pursue. 

A LEADING MERCHANT. 

Mr. VYashburo did an extensive business in paints and 
oils in addition to his other business. And the young peo- 
ple here and those in the adjacent villages had to get their 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 31 

furniture made by him, when about entering tlie matrimon- 
ial heaven. And it afforded us boys a good deal of amuse- 
ment and fun at times when we were in the store helping 
"Old Pilot," (the sobriquet of one of Mr. W.'s sons), to 
grind up his paint and make his putty, so that he might go 
off with us to play, — to hear the conversation Avhen a party, 
consisting of the old gentleman and lady with the blushing 
and bashful bride elect, were there, for the purpose of order- 
ing the outfits for housekeeping. Some of the questions 
and sage practical suggestions as to what was then neces- 
sary and as to what in the future would be required, with 
an occasional suggestion and a sly wink or two from the 
salesman as he caught the eye of the young lady full of 
blushes, were observed and overheard by us boys. The 
high contracting parties paid little attention to us, but we 
paid considerable to them and noticed and understood at the 
time, when and where the fun and the joke came in. The 
small and young folk not only hear, but they understand 
and discuss a good many things which the old people gener- 
ally suppose is all Greek to the little boys and girls. In 
those days there were no undertakers here, and all the cof- 
fins were made to order. We quite frequently found the 
workmen engaged in that business working away, singing 
and whistling, apparently as cheerful as when engaged upon 
bureau or bedstead. These receptacles for the dead were 
very plain and unpretentious in appearance, mostly made of 
pine, stained with dark red, and sometimes of cherry, but 
very rarely made of mohogany. They contrasted strongly 
with the gorgeous, elaborately-worked, ornamented, silver- 
plated and costly-finished coffins of the present times, which 
sometimes suggest the thoughts that fashion monopolizes 



32 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

the dead, while grief follows in the rear with its mourning 
flags and sable dresses. 

Mr. Washburn raised a large family, thereby contributing 
to the strength of the Commonwealth, and many of his de- 
scendants are still with us. He became wealthy, owned 
much valuable real estate, and his sons succeeded him in 
the business, and one of them is still doing an extensive 
hardware and furniture trade not far from the old site so 
long occupied by his father. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 33 



ARTICLE V. 



ACCOUNTS OF EMINENT MEN. 

Having in the last article given some specimens of the 
accounts against the common people, I here, by way of con- 
trast, re-produce a few specimens found in the books of Mr. 
Caldwell against the cultured dignitaries and notable indi- 
viduals of old Taunton about 100 .years agone. Hon. Rob- 
ert Treat Paine and Doct. David Cobb were both highly 
distinguished persons and had a national reputation. The 
former was an eminent laAvyer and occupied high and re- 
sponsible official positions, both National and State. The 
latter, in addition to those distinguished offices mentioned 
in a former article, was also one of Gen. Washington's 
Aids. The accounts are as follows : 

HON. ROBERT TREAT PAINE, *Dr. 
1769. - £. s. d. 

Aug. 6, 1 skain silk, per McElroy, 8 

Dec. 1 quire Justice's blanks, 1 6 
1770. 

May 24, 1| yds. bedtick, 3 1^ 

1772. 1 quart of Sloop's brandy, 1 10 

There is no credit to this account against the signer of the 
Declaration of Independence, but there is no question that 
it was paid in full. 5 



34 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



DOCT. DAVID COBB to R. CALDWELL, Dr. 

1770. £. s. d. 

July 19, To sunds,— 3 entries, 9 7 

Aug. 1, To do. per Lindsey, 5 8^ 

Oct. 14, To 2| yds. check pr. yr. maid at 2s. 2d. is, 4 11 

Nov. 1, To sunds, pr. day book, 

20, To 1 pair knee straps, 

Dec. 4, To 1 paper pins pr. yr. maid, 

1770. 

Jan. 10, B}^ your acct. & cash to Bal. 

1771. 

June 13, To 200 red herrins— one of do. intended 

for Mr. Blanchard, 

Dec. 1, To 50 lbs. Castile soap, at 10 d., 

29, To 1 pack cards as per day book, 
1775. 

Jan. 24, To 1 bottle Claret per Sam'l Blanchard, 2 
1776. 

Feb; 21, To bal. due for beef as per day book, . 2 6 

28, To ^ quintal codfish, 10 

Aug. 5, To my mare as pr. day book, 1 8 
1777. 

Jan. 27, To 1^ doz. butts pr. yr. boy for Mrs. Cobb, 1 6 





16 


8 




1 


2i 




1 




£1 


19 


1 


£1 


19 


1 




6 


8 


2 


1 

1 


8 







£3 


7 




CONTRA, Cr. 






1775. 








July 12, 


By cash, 




3 


Nov. 7, 


By dot pr. Miss Stasey on yr. acct.. 




3 


1777. 








Mar. 6, 


By do. as per day book. 




3 


<( <i 


B}^ yr. acct. agt. me when I had the 
Dysentery & Polly was born, &c. as 








pr. your acct. of date. 


2 


18 



£3 7 



Messrs. Doctors will please study and pouder this last 
item. We call this charge of the doctor cheap enough 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 35 

without including- the fever ! It costs a much larger amount 
now to introduce that indispensible class into the world, 
which make the dry goods business so profitable and the 
world in general so happy. But we must all welcome their 
regular advent, as without them the whole business of the 
world would come to a stand-still ! There would be no 
harm, however, in the doctors modifying their charges and 
paying less for fancy horses as an offset. 

JOSIAH CROCKER Jr., Dr. 

1773. • £. 

June 3, To 8 lbs. veal, 

Nov. 30, 1 bbl. molasses, 27 gals., 2 

Dec. 2, gals, brand 3^ per brother Ebenezer, 6s. 1 

24, Riding mare to Titicut, 
1774. 

Jan. 6, 3 gals, brandy per Ebenezer, 

27, 2 gals, do per Ebenezer, 

June 3, 1 hundred herrings, 
1775. 

Peb. 11, ^ gal. rum per Nat. Carver, 

21, '^ do. do. per do. do.. 

Mar. 10, i^ do. per Miss Crocker, 

18, ^ do. per Peter Adams, 

This account extends into 1777 and the largest portion of 
it is for the same article delivered to Nat. Carver and Peter 
Adams. They must have drank pretty freely, unless the 
liquor was for tavern use. I believe a gentleman of this 
name, who was the son of Rev. Joseph Crocker, kept a tav- 
ern in former days in the old homestead of the late Hon, 
Sam. Crocker. 

There is to the credit of Robert Grossman in an account 
in the year 1770, one yoke of oxen £7 4s., and a mare £6 
12s., amounting to £131Gs., just $46. This sum for a yoke 



s. 


d. 


1 


7 




6 


10 




1 


3 


28 




12 




3 


4 


2 




2 




2 




2 





36 BEMINISCENGES OF TAUNTON. 

of cattle and a mare seems pretty cheap iu these clays of 
$5,000 and S10,000 horses. 

MESSRS. COL. COBB & COMPANY, Dr. 

1781. 

May 22, To 13 mugs punch, £1 6s. 

To 7 Relishes or suppers, 5 3d. 



£1 11 3 



d^" Please take notice, Mr. Bliss. 

May 22, CONTRA, Cr. 

By cash per Mr. Goodwin, £0 3s. Od. 
Bj' do. for 3^ mugs & ^ of 

the suppers from James 

Tisdale, 9 7^ 

By cash of Mr. Padelford, 6 £0 18 7^ 

Bal. due, £0 12 7^ 

Col. Cobb is also charged, May, 1782, with 4^ mugs punch, 
at cards with Col. Shearburn, — 9s. The Christian name 
of the colonel not being given, we cannot of course identi- 
fy him, but he appears to have been a military officer, rank- 
ing as colonel and on intimate terms with another military 
gentleman, Col. Shearburn, both of whom seem to have en- 
joyed imbibing occasionally a few mugs of punch and play- 
ing also a pleasant game at cards. It is rumored that not 
far from this region the same kind of taste and business is 
still pretty rife and followed quite freely ! Can this be so? 
We found on a stray fly-leaf from some old play-book the 
following poetical tribute, (doubtless from some sighing 
swain,) between the leaves of the old ledger. The wn^iting 
had been scratched over with lines of ink for the purpose of 
eradicating the same and preventing its perusal, but after 
careful study it was translated and reads as follows : 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 37 

*'Eleanor Cobb is a very amiable young lady ; she not only 
possesses an out\vii)-d dignity which iustantaneously and 
warmly prepossesses all in her favor, — but what is infinite- 
ly greater, — she has a mind equivalent to each outward 
charm : grace in all her steps ; heaven iu her eyes ; and in 
every gesture dignity and love ! !" There, my boys, let us 
see you beat this inspired out-pouring of a loving heart if 
you can ! 

THE OLD SCHOOLS. 

In the rear of Mr. Washburn's house, which extended by 
a wing quite a distance below the street, there resided an 
elderly lady by the name of Mrs. Barney, who kept a school 
for the little ones which was always well filled with many 
variegated specimens of the rising generation, consisting of 
the future Generals, Governors and Presidents, the heroines 
of the battle fields, temperance crusades and women's rights, 
together with the champions of civilization and universal 
freedom. In those days democracy was not only a name, 
but a power in the ascendant, and black, white and gray 
mixed and mingled in our schools, all "meeting on the same 
level and parting on the same square." In this school, in 
days of our childhood, we first entered the abstruse regions 
of the a-b-ab, and the profound depths of the orthographic 
world. Here we continued for a number of years slowly pro- 
gressing until we finally reached the Bristol Academy, then 
kept by Mr. Luther Bailey, where, at the mature age of thir- 
teen we graduated into a dry goods and grocery store as a 
shop boy, having ^?ii.s/iefZ a very liberal education at that 
early age. Boys in the early times were taken from school 



SS REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

just as they began to learn and realize the importance of 
improving their time and opportunities. It was a mistaken 
idea of their parents, that they could finish their education 
just as well in dry goods and grocery stores as in common 
sschools and academies. 

The next building was a large two-story structure with a 
book store on one end and a drug and medicine store at the 
other. The upper part was occupied as a dwelling house 
by Dr. Daniel Brewer, so called from his keeping a drug 
store. The book and stationery store was owned and kept 
by Daniel Brewer, Jr., his son, who had in connection with 
it a book bindery also. The drug store was of very lim- 
ited capacity and the only one then in tov/n. The doctors 
replenished their saddle-bags generally there, as the store 
was supplied with a good assortment of ammunition to kill 
at forty rods ; and Dr. Brewer being quite an old man and 
having no other business, was generally on hand to supply 
their wants. 



EEMINISGENCES OF TAUNTON. 39 



ARTICLE VI. 



THE VILLAGE DOCTORS. 

At or about this time there were but two doctors in the 
place, (*) these two being Dr. Jones Godfrey and his son 
Jones, then about entering upon his practice with his father. 
Dr. Foster Swift, I believe, did not then reside here. But 
1 am not certain whether he came into the place before that 
time or afterwards. He was succeeded, however, by Dr. 
Geo. Leonard, and then for many years he and Dr. God- 

*Dr. Ezra Deane was tlie first physician of whom we have any record, 
and he practiced here in 1737. Dr. Job Godfrey Avas his successor and he 
died in 1813. Dr. Jones Godfrey, his son, succeeded him and continued 
in the practice of his profession until his death in 1831. In the early 
part of Dr. Job Godfrey's practice, Dr. David Cobb and Hon. William 
Baylies, father of Hon. William BayUes and Hon. Francis Baylies, were 
his contemporaries. Dr. William Baylies subsequently moved to Digh- 
ton and continued in his profession until his death. Dr. Foster Swift 
left town at or about the time that Dr. Geo. Leonard commenced his 
practice, who also took possession of Dr. Swift's apothecary shop and 
bought the stock in trade. He run the shop, making pills, plasters, etc., 
and dispensing drugs and medicines for many years. The Dr. continued 
his practice here until his death, which occurred a few years since. 

Dr. Philip Padelford, another of the early physicians, resided in 
East Taunton and was succeeded by his- son of the same name. He died 
in 1815. This son was Elijah M. Padelford and he represented Taunton 
in the General Court, or Legislature, in the year 1819 or 1820, as nearly 
as we can recollect. He had another son, Edward, who resided in Sav- 
annah and who generously gave $2^000 to the Old Ladies' Home here, 
just before his death. 



40 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

frey and his son had the exclusive running of the medical 
machine. The people, however, still managed in many in- 
stances to survive, notwithstanding the practice was, in most 
cases of fever, to bleed the patients copiously as soon as 
they were attacked. The doctors in those times followed 
enthusiastically Dr. Sangrado's infallible remedy for all dis- 
eases, so far as bleeding Avas concerned, but they left out the 
hot water entirely and contented themselves by drawing the 
blood of their patients freely. They also always ordered 
all the windows of the sick room to be closely shut, thereby 
excluding the fresh pure air and compelling both the sick 
and well to breath exclusively only that which was thorough- 
ly tainted with the poison of the fever. The prohibition of 
the use of a drop of water was made a sme qua 71071, al- 
though the patient might be burning up with the fire of the 
disease. Bravely and fortunately a change has come over 
the spirit of their dreams since those old fogy days. But 
there is, it is thought by some, a chance for progress and 
improvement still in the science of medicine, and a wider 
field for improvement by not a few of its practitioners, es- 
pecially among that glass who know everything worth 
knowing about it and charge all others who differ from them 
with being ignoramuses, etc. The probable truth, however, 
is that none of them know any too much, and that probaBly 
the most of them might learn much more, provided they 
would discard the great obstacle of progress, viz., pride of 
opinion. And they might without losing caste acknowledge 
at the same time that the world still moves in the intellect- 
ual department as well as in the material. As an illustra- 
tion of the effect of the old practice I may mention the case 
of a person whom I knew, who was sick with a fever. He 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 41 

was deprived of fresh air and denied the use of a drop of 
water, notwithstanding he said that he seemed to be tilled 
with an eternal fire which was consuming hira inch by inch. 
He begged and prayed for a little cold water, no doubt with 
as much fervor as did poor Lazarus in the parable, but death, 
according to the doctor's theory, lurked in every drop and 
he begfged in vain. His watchers were charijed not to g-ive 
him water under any circumstances. One night, however, 
as he lay with the fever in full blast of a consuming fire, his 
watcher chanced to fall asleep, when he noiselessly crawled 
out of his bed and made his way down stairs by the aid of 
the banisters and holding on to the walls of the house until 
he reached the old kitchen, where there always stood a pail 
of water and hard by the old tin dipper also. He clutched 
with desperate grasp the latter and filled and drank from 
the same without regard to quantity, until he had put out 
the fires within and thoroughly quenched his thirst. He 
then as noiselessly made his way back to his bed where the 
watchman Avas still reposing quietly in the arms of old Som- 
nus. He stole quietly into his bed without disturbing his 
sentinel watcher. The result of his hegira was that the 
night was passed entirely free from any unpleasant conse- 
quence, and more comfortably than any night since the cul- 
minatioQ of his fever. The consuming eternal fire was al- 
layed antf his extreme thirst entirely quenched. He said 
nothing about the matter to his watchman when he awoke, 
nor to his physician when ,he called the next morning, but 
decided to "lay low" and await the result patiently. 

When the doctor called to see him the next day, he pro- 
nounced his symptons much better, and said that he thought 
the fever was breaking up ; in which opinion the patient 

• 6 



42 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

heartily coincided, and from that day he dated his conval- 
esence which soon resulted in his recovery. This perhaps 
may be considered as an extreme case, which it might be 
dangerous at all times to follow, but it illustrates the fact 
that old dame Nature is generally the safest physician to 
follow under such circumstances, and that when patients 
strongly desire and are constantly begging for some partic- 
ular kind of food or beverage it may be, perhaps, perfectly 
safe to gratify their wishes. This might be done partially- 
and experimentally at first, for fear of injurious consequences 
or effects. The physicians of the present day do not, I be- 
lieve, object to this course of treatment, except in certain 
cases and under peculiar circumstances and conditions. But 
as we are not writing a homily on Materia Medica, and as 
that science is not necessarily connected with these remin- 
iscences, and as we are in nowise competent to treat it pro- 
fessionally, if it were, we will therefore hold up here. A 
little divergence from the regular routine of the narrative 
occasionally for the purpose of ^iUustrating and contrasting 
the manners and customs, theories and practices of the past 
with the present may be pardoned, how^ever, as it may serve 
to break the monotony and dullness of the subject, if not to 
please or amuse. 

DANIEL BREWER, JR. 

We return again to Daniel Brewer, Jr. He was an ear- 
nest, honest, conscientious individual, somewhat odd, pecu- 
liar and eccentric, and sometimes perliaps a little too san- 
guine, notional and fussy. But his heart was in the right 
place and ever in sympathy with the sorrowing and suffering. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 43 

He paid the strictest attention personally to his business, of 
which for a long time he had the monopoly, and which also 
was very profitable. Some years subsequently he added an 
apothecary's shop to his other branches and soon amassed a 
competence. As we have stated, he was very conscientious 
and had a nice sense of the obligations and duties of life. 
One of his notions and decisions formed early in his busi- 
ness life was, that after accumulating the sum of ten thou- 
sand dollars — a large fortune in his day — he would give 
away all that he might make thereafter. But when the 
time arrived which found him in possession of that sum he, 
like most people under similar circumstances, changed his 
mind, the fascinating argent still urging him forward. He 
went on in business and continued to increase his worldly 
possessions, apparently without any conscientious scruples 
until he very much exceeded the sum originally selected as 
the stopping point. He became a bank-stock holder, and 
director, and continued to manifest the same interest in 
money matters as in former days. The writer of this was 
a tenant of his many years and found him always an excel- 
lent landlord. He was liberal and generous and gave freely 
to such charitable objects as met his approbation. At one 
time he owned a horse ; and his views of the treatment 
touching horses and the best method of disposing of the flies 
in summer time, and what horses should eat and how they 
should be fed and in what manner driven, caused a good 
deal of amusement to his neighbors. There is little doubt 
that he treated his horse better than some men do their 
wives now ! He was at home in the discussion of the ex- 
citing topics of the day, and quite earnest, honest and radi- 
cal in their treatment. We may mention as an illustration 



44 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

of the correctness of some of his notions, the one he had 
about keeping the water in his well cold through the sum- 
mer. It was said that he filled it up during the winter with 
snow for that purpose. But he was compelled to acknowl- 
edge the experiment a failure as summer approached. He 
left a handsome estate at his decease for the children of his 
brothers, he being an old bachelor, thereby losing what lit- 
tle of heaven there is on earth. 

OLD-TIME DRINKING CUSTOMS. 

The next building beyond that of Mr. Brewer's was a 
small one-story store, occupied by Maj. Edward Grossman, 
who finally, I think, rose to the rank of colonel. His stock 
consisted, for the most past, of the lubricating and exhilar- 
ating liquid. It was a fashionable and fascinating bever- 
age and in as general demand then as now, but it was a far 
purer and less injurous article than the poisonous compounds 
dispensed at the present day. The Colonel was a good, sub- 
stantial citizen, a pleasant, agreeable and cheerful compan- 
ion, and his store was generally well-filled, especially in the 
evenings, with his boon companions, passing the time by 
telling stories and cracking jokes in a jolly, social manner. 
If the conversation became dull or their larynxes a little dry, 
they had nothing to do but to wet their whistles with the 
Colonel's lubricating liquid solvent. The effect was immed- 
iately apparent by the renewal of the conversation and the 
cheerful and animated rippling of the tongues all around the 
circle. A good deal of time, however, was spent by the 
heads of families on these occasions which should have been 
spent in their households. Many wives then, as now, burned 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 45 

the solitary lamp, anxiously awaiting for the absent hus- 
band's return. And, doubtless, many tears were shed and 
many hearts ached in consequence of the fascinating tenden- 
cies of the poisonous bowl in those days as in these. The 
temperance question was not then publicly agitated. Drink- 
ing liquors was fashionable among the higher classes and 
common among all. The side-boards of the rich were al- 
ways covered with decanters of the various kinds of liquors. 
Every gentleman who called in for any purpose, was invited 
to partake as a matter of course. The temperance move- 
ment long since banished this custom, and moral suasion and 
the terrors of the law have been invoked and brought to bear 
for the suppression of intemperance, sometimes judiciously 
and sometimes perhaps injudiciously. But no great advance 
has yet been made, apparently, in the direct paths which 
shall lead to its final extinction. The problem still remains 
unsolved, and the battle is still fought in the political arena 
for its suppression. Time alone must determine the result. 
Meantime, the moral world is waiting and hoping fbr the 
best. 

CHARLES BABBITT. 

The next building beyond Mr. Grossman's shop, was that 
of Mr. Charles Babbitt, father of our very popular and effi- 
cient Mayor. His business was that of a jeweller and man- 
ufacturer of clocks, etc. His store was but one-story in 
front with a large windoAV occupying about one-half of the 
width of the building. His work-shop was in the rear ad- 
joining this, and his dwelling house was in the rear of that 
adjoining the shop also. His store was well supplied with 



46 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

watches, jewelry and bijoutry of all kinds and also with 
hardware, guns, military equipments, etc., etc. He gener- 
ally visited New York once yearly, a journey of great im- 
portance and very rare for any one to make from a rural 
village in those days of stage coach and packets. Mr. Bab- 
bitt generally took a packet from Providence and sometimes 
one of our coasting sloops from the Weir. These coasters 
were frequently a week in getting out of the river and some- 
times waited another week in NeAvport for a fair wind. 
They were all built flat-bottomed. The centre-board was 
then unknown and without a fair wind they could not well 
navigate the Sound in rough weather. After a voyage to 
New York and the arrival of the new goods, his store was 
visited by all classes, it being a miniature museum full of 
curiosities, and all being anxious to see the wonders. He 
was naturally a genius, possessing much original, inventive 
talent ; thoroughly versed in his trade and a capital and ex- 
haustive workman. If any new or diificult article was to 
be made and no other mechanic dared to accept the job, Mr. 
B. was always on hand and ready to undertake the same, 
and he generally succeeded in accomplishing the work in a 
satisfactory manner. He pulled also nearly all the teeth of 
people suffering from the tooth-ache in the village, with one 
of those old-fashioned tooth drawers which made such terri- 
ble crashing work with jaw-bones and gums. He became 
such an expert in this branch of the doctors' occupation that 
they not unfrequently sent their patients to him, as pulling 
teeth is not a very pleasant business for them. My. Bab- 
bitt prosecuted for many years an increasing and profitable 
business. He built the brick store now occupied by Messrs. 
Tinkham and continued his business there until his death. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 47 

He also built a portion of the brick block on the opposite 
side of the street aod occupied the upper part as a dwelling 
house. By his strict attention to business he accumulated 
a fortune and left it for the benefit and enjoyment of his 
heirs. His career and success illustrates the result of dili- 
gent application, economy, temperance and perseverance 
on the part of those who have nothing but their hands, in- 
tegrity and determination to commence the business of life 
with. Young man, go thou and do likewise. 



48 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



ARTICLE VII. 



HARRY HOLMES. 



The next building beyond Mr. Babbitt's was a small one- 
story shop, occupied by Harry Holmes and his father for 
the shoe-making and cobbling business. They resided in 
Westminster, just at the corner of the road leading to the 
depot. Harry was a famous joker, full of wit, fun and 
frolic. He was always drafted on all convivial occasions, 
and whenever parties were formed for fishing excursions 
down the river, or for evening gatherings, sleigh rides, &c. 
Some of his jokes were sharp, and cut to the quick ; and 
some Avhich had a common notoriety are not exactly the 
kind for a repetition here. But Harry was exceedingly 
good company, and was always in demand when fun was 
the order of the day. His physiognomy baffles description. 
His daguerreotype would be invaluable. 

ORIGIN OF THE BAPTIST SOCIETY. 

The next building was occupied by Thomas C. Brown, 
who was in the harness-making business. Mr. Brown was 
an upright, honest and industrious person. He attended 
personally to his business, was always ready to see and at- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 49 

tend to the wants of his customers. By his industry, perse- 
verance, and strict attention to business, he soon became 
able to build himself a handsome house on what was called 
the Neck-of-Land street. The house is now owned and oc- 
cupied by his son-in-law, James Brown, Esq., a prominent 
member of the Bristol bar. Mr. Browm, during a residence 
here of some years, was an attendant upon the ministrations 
of Mr. Pipon, and a member of the First Congregational 
Society. But he changed his theological views, and asso- 
ciated himself with William Stall and Elias Parry in form- 
ing the Baptist Society, now in a flourishing condition here. 
William Stall was a wheelwright and had his shop just 
back of the old court house, near the site of the present 
court house. He was a pure, kind, single-hearted saint. 
His countenance was a true indication of his inner life. 
Elias Parry was a foreigner, Irish or Scotch, I do not now 
recollect which. He was a very intemperate man for many 
years, but he suddenly, and without the aid of the temper- 
ance cause, became, a radically reformed, temperance dis- 
ciple ; and he thereupon connected himself with the other 
two persons in aid of the new cause which he had espoused. 
Mr. Parry for many years run the Grossman Grist Mill, 
mentioned in a former article, supplying the town with all 
the meal which was wanted ; and he never forgot that he 
had taken the toll when he emptied the bag into the hopper, 
and did not therefore take it again to make sure. These 
three persevering saints and pioneers were the first mem- 
bers, and formed the oucleus around which that society has 
gathered. And to them doubtless the society is indebted 
for its existence. They engaged what w^as then known as 
the Mason's hall, which stood on the north side of Main 

7 



50 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

street, opposite Mowry's block. The lower story was for- 
merly occupied by Elias Fisher for a hat manufactory, and 
then again as a furniture shop, dry goods, etc. Here these 
men held their meetings Sundays and in the evenings for 
many years. Each one took part in the service, and the 
meetings were carried on by them with such aid as came 
voluntarily. They had no settled or hired minister. The 
meetings were soon fully attended, especially in the even- 
ings, and became interesting to the outside world. They 
soon had quite a number of volunteer speakers to assist in 
their devotions, a noted one of which was that thoroughly 
honest, sincere and devoted man, Roswell Ballard, who es- 
tablished the wool carding and clothiers business in a mill 
v^^hich stood upon the site now occupied by a portion of the 
building of A. Field & Sons' manufacturing establishment. 
He pursued his business there for many years successfully. 
Such were the men who first established and by constant 
and persistent efforts succeeded in building up the Baptist 
Church and Society here. They appeared to be true and 
devoted christians, and thoroughly earnest in their efforts, 
working out their salvation without the aid of adventitious 
and sensational clap-trap. Pulpit proclamations and fulmi- 
nations, and public notices, dramatic entertainments, operas, 
dinners, tea-parties, &c., were no part of the machinery of 
the former days, for the purpose of filling the church with 
hearers merely, and making the names of ministers and so- 
cieties popular and famous among certain classes fond of 
jokes, amusements and peanuts. The egotism, assurance 
and conceit occasionally manifested in this transition period 
by a few of the fog-lights of the pulpit, wiio burn false in- 
cense upon christian altars by making our meeting houses 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 51 

the arenas of popular declamation and self-glorifications, 
were either unknown or kept in abeyance in the former 
days of old fogyism. The regular church and conference 
meetings were neither repudiated nor ignored, much less for- 
gotten. And fulsome panegyrics in their own praise, some- 
times modestly written by themselves, perchance, were not 
sent to the press for publication in the former times to im- 
mortalize their reputation and make famous the theological 
guild to which they belonged. Happily, we live in a won- 
derfully progressive age in this respect, where pay days 
(come what may) are never forgotten, and high salaries re- 
dound to the glory of God exceedingly. Possibly these 
changes indicate a purer spirituality, but the old fossils are 
incredulous. But notwithstanding these essential modern 
elements were wanting in building up the Baptist zion here, 
this society, under the simple ministrations of these devoted 
men, continued to strengthen and increase until it developed 
into its present flourishing condition, without the aid of any 
spread eagle element, and also virtually without money and 
without price. 

ISAAC SHAW. 

The next building at that time was a pretty large, story 
and a half structure, occupied then or about that time by 
Mr. Isaac Shaw as a dwelling house and store. He kept a 
large stock of goods, and had done and was still doing a 
flourishing business, although his habits were hastening his 
downfall. He formerly owued that estate now occupied by 
Skinner & Go's store and the old Dean store, with all the 
land in the rear, now belonging to the Dean estate, together 
with the land on which all the buildings have been erected 



52 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

on the new street, since opened there. But as the time 
passed on he continued to grow less and less competent to 
manage his business until he was obliged to have it wound 
up. Mr. Shaw was esteemed as a generous, genial, good- 
hearted man, neighbor and friend. But like too many others 
he bargained happiness and wealth by worshiping at the 
shrine of Bacchus. For many years he was often seen upon 
the streets in a state of unnatural exhilaration, and while in 
this condition he used to walk in the middle of the road, 
talking rapidly to himself, occasionally stopping and jump- 
ing up and making speeches. Sometimes a flock of boys 
would follow, endeavoring to plague and annoy him by con- 
tradicting and interrupting his address in various ways. But 
he was always kind and good-natured, and the only response 
he made under these aggravating circumstances was, "Boys, 
G — d d — m you," or "God bless you boys — take your 
choice." 

AN ECCENTRIC CHARACTER. 

The next building was a one-story tailor shop, occupied 
by Mr. Seth Johnson, who carried on that trade and lived 
in a house which stood where White's Music Hall now 
stands. Mr. Johnson was a very respectable man, enjoy- 
ing the confidence of the public and the friendship of a large 
social circle. He had a fine family, and his daughters were 
celebrated for their beauty and social attractions. Mr. John- 
son lost his wife, and subsequently married the widow 
Weatherby, who formerly owned the valuable estate on 
both sides of Weir street and fronting City Square. The 
store occupied by Mr. Johnson was I think enlarged, and 
subsequently used for the sale of dry goods and groceries 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 53 

by many tenants down to the time of its demolition. !Not 
long after this period quite a number of other buildings were 
erected in this locality on the unoccupied sites, and were 
used for various branches of business. Among the last who 
kept this old store as a dry goods bazar was the eccentric 
aod singular individual, Farnum A. Sumner. He had his 
favorite customers, to whom he was all devotion, and whom 
he amused by his witty stories while waiting upon them 
with the greatest politeness and attention. His customers 
were largely of the farming classes, and he had their confi- 
dence to such an extent that he monopolized nearly all of 
their custom. He dealt largely in broad cloths, cassimeres 
and domestic goods, and he sold them at such prices as en- 
abled him to secure and keep his customers. He was very 
liberal in thro,wing into the goods sold for garments very 
large quantities of trimmings, silk and thread, for which he 
made no charge. This w^as one of the secrets of his trade, 
which pinned his customers fast. There was also a certain 
set of persons who, when they called into his store for the 
purpose of examining and making purchases, always failed 
of obtaining any goods. To these he would say that he was. 
out of the kind of goods they wanted, and if they called his 
attention to piles of the articles on his counter he would re- 
ply, "they are all sold."' He resided out of town some 
seven miles and kept a very spirited horse of great speed to 
take him back and forth. He generally closed his store an 
hour or two before sunset, and had his horse brought to the 
door to take him home. The animal was always anxious 
to start, and when unhitched he would not stand a moment 
for one to get into the carriage ; and Farnum frequently Jiad 
to run along beside the carriage with the reins in his hands 



54 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

nearly the length of Main street before he could manage to 
get on board. And when he succeeded it was generally at 
the risk of breaking his neck. But he liked that kind of 
show and excitement, and he worshiped his horse. When- 
ever he left town on business he always closed his store. 
He seemed to have no confidence in clerks, and when he 
went to Boston to purchase goods his store w^as always clos- 
ed until his return. In later years he kept a store in the 
Dunbar & Grossman block, and finally built the store next 
to the Bristol County Bank, now occupied by P. Williams 
& Co. as a grocery store. He finally left this place and re- 
moved to the West and carried on the trading and farming 
business many years there. He died a few years since. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



ARTICLE VIII. 



REVOLUTIONARY CURRENCY. 

As there is much complaint about a deranged currency 
and forced loans, in consequence of the war for the salva- 
tion of liberty, we reproduce a specimen of the old continen- 
tal currency, taken from Mr. Caldwell's books, as follows : 

JOHN Mcpherson dr. to r. caldwell. 



1780. 




£ 


s. d. 


May, 


To 6 weeks' board, 


313 


4 


July, 


" sundries for liquors, 


9 


18 


Sept. 1, 


" 6 weeks' board to this day, 


313 


4 




'* sundries to date. 


15 






" 4 glasses liquor. 


3 


12 



£654 18 00 

Reduced to currency this amounts to $2183. $174 per 
week for board in thoise days of simple living is almost equal 
to Fifth Avenue prices in New York at the present day ; 
and S3 per glass for liquor exceeds even the Fifth Avenue 
prices, as some of my liquor drinking friends inform me. 
Among the items on the credit side of this account is 3 feet 
of wood for £15 — say $50. 1 peck corn £3 15s — $50 per 
bushel. 



56 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



WHERE THE "REPUBLICAN ORIGINATED. 

The next building beyond that of Mr. Sumner's, describ- 
ed in our last, was a two story structure, occupied below by 
Wm. Washburn, as a cabinet maker's shop, and the upper 
story was a hall, used for singing schools, meetings, town 
schools and offices, alternately. The Republican., then bear- 
ing the name of the Old Colony Reporter, was first issued 
April 4, 1821, and edited by Jacob Chapin, Esq., was sub- 
sequently printed in this room for many years. When the 
paper was first started, in 1821, it was printed in a small 
one story building in Jocky Lane, or Weir street, on the 
site of Townsend's fish market, by Allen Danforth, who 
subsequently left town and started the Plymouth Memorial 
in Plymouth. The writer, when a boy, had a great pen- 
chant for printing offices and newspapers. He always was 
found at the printing office on the evening of publication if 
he was not detained in the store, and we think he ought to 
have learned the trade and become a "jom*," and possibly 
then he might have been an Alderman or Justice of the 
Peace by this time. As we have run into the egotistical 
line, we may as well keep on a little further by stating that 
we had, early in life, a strong love of poetry, and read the 
modern authors pretty freely ; and being young, as a matter 
of course, we took a liking to the poems of Henry Kirke 
White. This perhaps led us to try our hand at verse, and 
the first article of ours which saw the light, came through 
the columns of this paper, then known as the Old Colony 
Reporter. After a time, as we occasionally sent an anony- 
mous contribution, we got a compliment from the editor, and 
a request for a continuance of our correspondence. Of course. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 57 

tlien we thought our reputation was a fixed fact, and re- 
joiced accordingly, alone in our glory. And very naturally 
we have sympathetically followed the fortunes of the paper 
through all its changes and vicissitudes to the present time, 
finding it now securely established and in a prosperous con- 
dition, and ourselves making a part and parcel of the rem- 
iniscences of the past, now in course of publication in the 
same. This little episode may be pardoned as it comes in 
([uite apropos while speaking of the early days of this news- 
paper, and nobody for a moment will suppose that it savers 
the least bit of vanity or conceit, as our modesty and self- 
abnegation are well known aujl have nearly ruined us al- 
ready. 

MAIN STREET MERCHANTS. 

The next building beyond this of Mr. Washburn's was 
that occupied by John Reed as a dry goods store, and the 
next was the apothecary shop of Dr. Swift. Subsequently 
the sites between the buildings on this line were all filled up 
with stores. The first, commencing at the west, was a 
tu'o story building, occupied by Dawes and James as a dry 
goods store, with chambers in the secgnd story. The next 
cast of the cabinet manufactory was also occupied as a dry 
goods store by Henry Washburn, and the next beyond that 
of John Reed was also occupied as a dry goods store by 
Isaac Washburn, Jr. Soon after these buildings were erect- 
ed, a plank sidewalk was built the whole distance in front 
of the same, and the name of Plank Walk was given to that 
locality. 

HORSE-BACK RIDING. 

In those days pretty much all of the travelling was done 
on horseback, and the farmers did their shopping in this 

8 



58 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

way, and brought to market their produce by the use of bags 
thrown across the horses. They also brought into town their 
wives and daughters, and carried them to meeting on Sun- 
days, riding on pillions behind the saddle and holding on 
tight and fast, with one arm around the man of the lines. 
This would, no doubt, be a pleasant way for the young men 
of the present day to give their dulcineas an occasional airing. 
And, as fashion revolves in a circle, it is not impossible that 
we may yet see the young beau with his lady-love on a pil- 
lion behind him, galloping away upon some fiery Rosinante 
through our streets with plumes and ribbons fluttering as 
waving signals for pedestrians to stand aside. For the ac- 
commodation of the riders in those days, horse blocks were 
built on each side of Main street and stationed at proper 
distances apart. These were.made with steps and square 
platforms on top, from which the ladies could easily place 
themselves upon their pillions, and the old and infirm men 
could also mount their saddles. 

HON. SILAS SHEPARD. 

The next building beyond the apothecary shop was the 
house of Dr. Swift, which, soon after he left town, was oc- 
cupied by Silas Shepard, then the superintendent of the old 
Taunton Cotton Mill. Mr. Shepard possessed considerable 
mechanical ingenuity and was intelligent and enterprising. 
He was interested in the "speeder," invented by Cromwell 
Dean, a resident of Dean street, who was an employee in 
the Taunton Cotton Mill. This invention caused quite a 
commotion at the time and was a great improvement upon 
the old methods of making roping, adding largely to the 
facilities of production. Mr. Dean realized an ample sum 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 59 

for his support, without farther labor, from the proceeds of 
the sales of the same. The machine is, to some extent, still 
ill use in the mills, I believe. Mr. Shepard subsequently 
became the overseer of Crocker & Richmond's factories at 
Hopewell^and on leaving that position he built the stone 
factory at Shepardville, noAv Oakland, and continued in the 
manufacturing business until his decease. He was a mem- 
ber of the Senate for two years, and a gentleman of much 
ability and highly respected. 



GO EE3IINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



ARTICLE IX. 



FEMALE COSTUMES PAST AND PRESENT. 

As the female costume and its cost is causing considera- 
ble discussion at present with regard to its effects upon mar- 
riage, population and the pockets, we have thought it prop- 
er to contrast the past with the present, in that respect, by 
giving the following memorandum, from Mr. Caldwell's 
books, under the date of 1775. This may pass therefore, as 
a kind of centennial celebration of the happy progress in this 
department far the past one hundred years. Doubtless it 
will seem strange, that with all the wonderful scientific dis- 
coveries and inventions during that time, there has been no 
perceptible change in the female dress department, except- 
ing the ever varying change in the fashions ; the sex still re- 
maining as indifferent and unconcerned with regard to ma- 
terial, style and cost now, as heretofore. This is only to be 
accounted for on the supposition that the ladies of the pres- 
ent day are the same prudent, industrious and economical 
help-meets as those who flourished a century agone. We 
should like, therefore, to see the first man who dares charge 
them with ruioing their husbands by either extravagance in 
dress, fashionable traveling, grand turn-outs, sensational 
balls and parties, or by sweeping the streets and sidewalks' 
with their silk dresses. All such charges certainly 02ighf 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 61 

to be preposterous. But there is no need of any further re- 
marks or illustrations, and we therefore reproduce a copy of 
the memorandum as follows, which contains a few items not 
connected with the dress department. 



1 silk gown, 8 yds., 

(In currency $66.67) 
One large China bowl, 

(Only $50.) 
One set of oval dishes. 
One Continental coat, 

(Cheap enough, wish we had it.") 
7 Yds. Lawn, 
One pr. clocked stockings, 

(#3.33 lor 1 pr. stockings.) 



£ 


s. 


d. 


20 








15 








1 


16 





6 








4 


4 





1 









£55 4s Od. 



The China bowl and the other items have nothing to do 
with the silk dress, it will be perceived. Fifty dollars for a 
single China bowl, (probably a punch bowl) would be con- 
sidered rather steep even in these days. This item must 
therefore be set down to the taste of the male department. 
But let us analyze the silk dress a little further. It will be 
perceived that it contained only 8 yards of silk ! And the 
making and trimmings in those days would not have cost 
over So, probably, and the dress when left by the deftth of 
its first owner would undoubtedly be in such condition as to 
pass down two or three generations as an heir-loom unscath- 
ed, adorning the lithe and lovely forms of the beautiful de- 
scendants of its first occupant. The dresses of the present 
times require about 25 yards of silk of double width of that 
in ye olden times, and it takes about 11 to 15 yards more 
for the trimmings, trails and unmentionables, say 40 yards, 
all told, at $3.50 as about the average cost. This makes 



62 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

the raw material cost $140.00. The price for making, 
charged by the fashionable dressmaker, v^^ill average about 
$20. Here is the sum of only $160 for a single dress, which 
can be multiplied by as many as may constitute each prudent 
female's wardrobe. To make a moderate estimate, suppose 
we give the average as three dresses for a young married 
lady whose husband is in moderate circumstances ; these 
would amount to $480, which is certainly not a large sum 
to expend for the pleasure of having and pleasing a wife. 
Then again, a piano must certainly be had, to keep up with 
the times, at a cost of about $400, perhaps, and finally there 
are the diamond rings and pins, the gold bracelets, necklaces, 
ear-rings and common finger-rings, the sold watch and 
chains, the fancy parasols and fans, and two bonnets per 
year at a cost of $10 to $15 each. We need say nothing as 
to other necessary articles w^hich go to make up a lady's 
wardrobe, as they probably do not cost over $100 yearly. 
Now, in view of this economical outlay, what is to prevent 
the young men from mating instead of waiting? Then again, 
please remember that each silk dress actually lasts two sea- 
sons by an outlay of $25 for the second year ; and the ridic- 
ulous idea of making a dress of this cost last any longer — 
much less of handing it down for future generations — would 
only excite the laughter, if not the contempt of the very pru- 
dent girls of our day. And v\hy shouldn't it? Now we ask 
what in the world is to prevent the young men from enter- 
ing the matrimonial state, and thereby obtaining a foretaste 
of heaven, and a realization of the utter worthlessness of 
money ! which is the root of all the evil we know. The most 
of those who would doubtless like to double their happiness, 
if not their outlays, are commanding salaries from $600 to 



BE3IINTSCENCES OF TAUNTON. 03 

$2,000 per year. What on earth is there to prevent their 
getting married, when so small a sum as this will furnish a 
fashionable dress for their wives, while their own wardrobe 
can be kept complete for about $150 per year. Isn't it about 
time that these old cynical '"crotchets," the misers, should 
shut up and mind their own business? We think it is high 
time ! The present condition of business affairs and the 
currency will teach lessons that will sufficiently enforce their 
own truths, as time passes on. The goddess of parsimony 
will therefore please fold her wings and go to roost, while 
the old fossil gods of prudence, forecast and thrift, shut up 
their chattering homilies on provisions for the future. 

OLD-TIME POLITICS. 

The house next beyond Dr« Swift's was that of James 
Hodges, father of Hon. Jas. L. Hodges, for many years a 
prominent citizen here. He was the first cashier of the old 
Taunton Bank and served in that capacity for many years. 
He represented this district in Congress four years, and held 
the office of County Treasurer for a number of years. James 
Hodges, his father, was a prominent democrat in the earlier 
years Avhen party spirit ran high, and the old federal party 
fought the democrats with a good deal of bitterness and per- 
severance. The federal party in this toAvn was generally in 
the ascendant and had things pretty much in their own way. 
Mr. Hodges Avas made post-master under the democratic ad- 
ministration, and the office was afterw^ards filled for many 
years by James L. and subsequently by his brother David. 
The post office w^as in a building next beyond the dwelling 
house of Mr. Hodges, standing on the site now^ occupied by 
buildings built by the late George Leonard, 2d. It was oc- 



64 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

cupied as a store and post office^ Mr. Hodges keeping a gen- 
eral assortment of goods and doing a successful business. 
The late Gov. Morton married one of his daughters. In 
those days both political parties vied with each other in all 
public celebrations, and when the Fourth of July was cele- 
brated there were sometimes two celebrations, one by each 
party. I remember that they had on one occasion two lib- 
erty poles erected on the Green, tAvo flags flung to the breeze 
and two bowers built extending in opposite directions across 
the Common, under which they took their dinners, drank 
their wine and gave their patriotic toasts. On one of these 
occasions they also had two orators of the day, Hon. James 
Ellis and Hon. Marcus Morton, to stir up the latent fires of 
l)atriotism, to say nothing of party spirit which did not need 
stirring. These liberty poles -were raised some days in ad- 
vance of the 4tli and sometimes cut down in the night. 
There was intense excitement after the election of Elbridge 
Gerry as the Democratic Governor of the State. Under his 
administration the State was districted anew by running the 
lines in such a manner as would secure the continuance of 
the democratic ascendancy, without any regard to the nat- 
ural course of the topography or the honest fitness of things. 
This w^as called Gerrymandering the State for party pur- 
poses, and the injustice was so palpable that it defeated the 
party. When Gov. Gerry commenced his administration 
he turned out all the federalists then in office and put in his 
democratic friends, and this exasperated the "feds." Among 
others the high sheriiF, Horatio Leonard, and Mr. Abiezer 
Dean, the jail-keeper, had to walk the plank. Some of the 
appointments made were open to criticism and excited con- 
siderable joking and comment on the part of the "feds." 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 65 

People in those days were in the habit of spending their 
evenings in convivial assemblies at the hotels, where politics 
and the exciting topics of the day were always in order and 
freely discnssed. For the purpose of making these meetings 
pass pleasantly, a few of the "feds" put their heads together 
and got up a political song which was sung so ofteu that the 
])oys learned it and it was sung by them in the highways 
and byways. At that time, among the prominent democrats 
in town were Marcus Morton and Joseph Tisdale, who was 
a Senator, and Jas. L. Hodges, then quite a young man. 
The office of high sheriff, under the new administration, had 
been filled by a Mr. McClaflin, not over educated or refined ; 
and that of jail-keeper by a Mr. Seaver, who was a shoe- 
maker, and they were particularly mentioned in the song. 
I can recollect but one stanza which is as follows : 

There Avas Marcus and Jimmy and Senator Jo ! 
I'll fetch and I'll carry, I'll come and I'll go — 
And I'll jail every rascal that I can o'erhaul. 
And Seaver shall prick him with his pegging awl ! 
Chorus. 

Oh M cOlaflin , sheriff McClaflin— 

Sheriff McClaflin, gee up and gee oh ! 



66 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



ARTICLE X 



THE OLD POST OFFICE. 

My last reminiscence, Article 9, found us at the old green 
gambrel-roofed post office, situated opposite the store of 
Skinner & Co., and on the spot now occupied by the Leon- 
ard buildings. After the death of Mr. Hodges, the post- 
master, the store was left vacant for a time. In one cor- 
ner was the post office, a room not over ten feet by eight 
feet in size ; just about large enough for three or four per- 
sons besides the postmaster to occupy ; the public, however, 
had the whole of the rest of the store for their occupancy 
while waiting for the openin-g of the mails, which space was 
at least six times as large as the three-cornered pepper-box 
now furnished by Uncle Sam, and yclept a post office, where 
the outside is always full and the inside is Fuller. The 
postage in those days was considerably in advance of the 
present rates : letters from New York were charged 18 3-4 
cents ; from the various points at the South, 25 cents ; from 
Boston, 10 cents ; and from distances under thirty miles, G 
cents. The young ladies having lovers residing at a dis- 
tance were not inconvenienced, however, by these prices, as 
it was optional to prepay or not ; they therefore could write 
as often as they pleased, free gratis and for love. 

The old post office building was subsequently altered 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 67 

by running a board partition through the length of the 
same. This room was fitted up as a book store in 
front, and in the rear as a printing office for the pub- 
lication of a paper styled "The Free Press ;" the paper 
was established to advocate the election of W. H. Crawford, 
then put in nomination by the democratic party against 
John Q. Adams, the candidate for the National Republican 
})arty of that day, Messrs. Merrick & Parsons, then prom- 
ising young lawyers of this place, were the editors ; both of 
these gentlemen became eminent, subsequently, the one as 
a judge and the other a professor in the law School at Cam- 
bridge ; the paper was started in 1822, I believe, and the 
press and type were furnished from the office of the Boston 
Post. Charles G. Greene, then a young man and the brother 
of Nathaniel Greene, cne of the editors of the Boston Post, 
was sent here for the management of the paper ; heAvas then 
a jovial, jolly, young man, full of wit, fun and frolic as an 
Qgg is of meat ; he fitted and furnished the front room of the 
building as a book store and kept a small assortment of books 
and stationery ; in the rear of this room was the printing of- 
fice. The paper was soon underway and Charlie, as he was 
called, became one of the most popular young men in town. 
Nearly opposite the old post office stood the Robert Dean 
store, which is still occupying the same spot. Mr. Dean 
having retired from business, the store was taken by a young 
man who had for some time been his clerk ; this young man 
was very similar in temperament, tastes and disposition to 
his friend Charlie, across the street; he, at that time, was 
known for his shrewdness, wit and love of fun, and also for 
his jokes and celebrated stories, which latter sometimes 
bordered a little on the Munchausen it was thought by some ; 



68 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

whetlier he was particularly notable for this trait or for 
truthfulness in the main, it is not necessary to specify here ; 
he is numbered now as one of the dignitaries of the city, 
holding very responsible positions and is thoroughly known 
and appreciated as among the salt of the synagogues, if not 
among the elect of the earthly financiers ; no one questions the 
truthfulness of any of his many and varied stories and illus- 
trations of the divinity of democracy ; and although he, like 
some of his old chums, stands upon the outer threshold that 
leads into the beautiful beyond, he is still cheerie, merry, and 
apparently well satisfied with the condition of the world in 
general, and also very jubilant since the democracy in the 
House of Representatives have obtained the majority ; he is 
a thorough believer in Broynson's doctrine, viz : ''That de- 
mocracy is the supremacy of a man over his accidents." 
Well, he and his friend Greene were always playing jokes 
on each other whenever an opportunity ofl:ered. It so hap- 
pened that on a cold, raw, unpleasant day a farmer came 
into town to sell some corn, and he called at the Dean store 
among others to ascertain if the proprietor was in want, 
stating that he had fifty bushels of good, sound Northern 
corn which he would like to market. The proprietor told 
him that he was not just then in want, and the farmer in- 
quired if he knew of any party who would be likely to pur- 
chase ; whereupon a sudden thought struck the storekeeper, 
and he replied that he did, stating at the same time that the 
party occupied a part of the post ofiice store, just opposite, 
and that it might be necessary to urge the sale of his corn, 
even if the party should decline at first to purchase. 

The post office, as stated above, had been , partitioned by 
boards running through the centre, and in some of these 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 69 

hoards there were knot holes, through which it was easy to 
hear the conversation within. 

The farmer started across the street, flourishing a long 
whip-stick of wahiut and a lash some six feet long ; he en- 
tered the book store and finding no one within, preceeded to 
the office door, raised his big whip and rapped away ; mean- 
time the opposite party had crossed the street, entered the 
post office and had his ear close to one of the knot holes. 
Greene stood at his case in his shirt-sieves, composing stick 
in hand, and was hard at it, setting type. When the big 
whip thundered at his door, he sang out, "Come in !" The 
door opened slowly and in stalked the farmer, big whip in 
hand, making quite an imposing and ominous figure, and 
whether friend Greene thought he appeared for the purpose 
of settling on the spot for any disturbing political editorials 
or otherwise, I do not know, but he was evidently surprised 
at the stranger's visit. The farmer soon allayed any appre- 
hensions of that kind by the usual salution of "Good-day, 
sir !" which was responded to by Greene, in his usual pleas- 
ant manner. Preliminaries being thus settled, the farmer 
inquired if he wanted to purchase any more corn for his 
trade. This seemed at first a '"stumper" for Greene ; he re- 
plied, ''Corn ! corn ! corn ! did you say?" "Yes," answered 
the farmer, "I was told that you traded largely in that arti- 
cle, and was advised to call in and ascertain if you were in 
want." "Oh, ah ! yes," replied Greene, "and who sent you 
here to inquire?" "The storekeeper across the way told me 
that he thought you would buy, and he seemed to know 
about your trade." "Oh, yes, yes," replied Greene, "he 
generally does, and sometimes it seems a little better than 



70 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

myself, but I believe that all my customers have been sup- 
plied ; however, I will see." 

He dropped the composing stick and started for the front 
shop and went in, and commenced taking down from the 
shelves some account books, and after turning over the 
leaves very carefully and with pen in hand figuring up ap- 
parently some columns of figures, he stated that all his cus- 
tomers, he regretted to say, had been supplied. And the 
farmer after making some inquiries left, no wiser for the 
joke played upon Greene. Meantime the storekeeper had 
gone back to his store to ponder, perhaps, upon the result 
of this joke and to plan some others. We think that friend 
Greene managed this joke very adroitly, and that his neigh • 
bor over the way did not gain much the advantage on the 
whole. 



REMINISDENCES OF TAUNTON. 



ARTICLE XI 



THE EAST END OF MAIN STREET. 

Between the old post otfice and the store of Joseph Tis- 
dale stood a little shop, occupied by Mr. Loverage as a 
cordwainer. A few years later Mr. Isaac Babbitt, the cele- 
brated founder of the Britannia Co., and inventor of the 
Babbitt metal, now universally used for the bearings of all 
large machinery, opened his jewelry and watch and clock 
store in one corner of the old post office and commenced 
business. He was a very ingenious and persevering me- 
chanic, with a head full of new ideas of future possibilities 
and grand inventions and improvements in the mechanic 
arts and sciences. After the establishment of the Britannia 
Works at Hopewell, he moved to Boston and went into an 
extensive manufacturing business, obtained $20,000 from 
the U. S. Government for the use of his patent Babbitt 
metal, and finally retired from business with a competency. 
The store of Mr. Joseph Tisdale was the next beyond the 
Loverage shop and directly opposite that of Mr. Dean's. 
These two stores were among the most prominent in the 
town, both doing a large business and keeping a general as- 
sortment ot the various kinds of goods m demand. Mr. 
Tisdale was one of the influential political leaders in the 
town, and was elected to the Senate during the high politi- 



72 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

cal excitement between the federalists and democrats of that 
day. He was a worthy gentleman and a successful mer- 
chant. His son, Joseph, was a mute, and very popular 
with the boys. He went by the name of deaf and dumb Jo, 
and he took great interest in the plays of the boys. He 
watched their games of base ball, catch-all, foot ball, &c., 
with evident delight, laughing, clapping his hands and mak- 
ing the best efforts he could to shout his applause. Almost 
always when one met him on the street he would stop to tell 
the news he had ascertained from signs through his ^I'iends 
by communicating the same to those he met, and most peo- 
ple easily understood him, having learned the meaning of 
the gesticulations he made use of. 

Mr. Tisdale's house stood just beyond his store, with an 
ample front yard. It was an old-fashioned square built 
mansion, two stories high, with a garden in the rear. A 
fine barn occupied the site where the new Leonard block 
now stands. Opposite these premises, just beyond the pre- 
sent hay-scales, the town erected in 1816 a brick town- 
house, two stories high, with belfrey, and a bell to call the 
voters together. There were three rooms fitted below as 
stores, one of which only was used for that purpose a short 
time ; they were subsequently occupied as cabinet makers' 
and carpenters' shops. The town house stood parallel with 
the old Unitarian meeting house, and rather too near the 
same, as the town hall was frequently occupied on Sundays 
by some itinerant preacher, and in the summer, when the 
windows of both were open, the singing and preaching was 
of a disturbing nature. But as the occupants of both houses 
were laboring in the same vir\eyard they could afford to bear 
and forbear. . 



RE3IINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 73 

The next building beyond the barn of Mr. Tisdale was 
Mr. John Reed's house and store combined. Mr. Reed was 
among the first of the old merchants in Taunton. He kept 
a general assortmeut of goods, and subsequently removed his 
store to "the plank walk" locality, Avhere he continued busi- 
ness for many years. 

The next building, now occupied by J. H. Anthony, Esq., 
was the mansion of Rev. Simeon Daggett, who w^as the first 
proprietor of the Bristol Academy, established in this towm 
in 1792. He held this position for many years, and was a 
successful and popular teacher. Mr. Daggett occasionally 
officiated as a preacher, and quite often, in the absence of 
Mr. Fipou, occupied his pulpit, to the great satisfaction of 
his hearers, his sermons seldom exceeding fifteen minutes in 
the delivery ; they were, however, comprehensive and to the 
point, earnest, original and eloquent, free from the slap- 
dash and hurrah of the present day, magnetic, chaste and 
inspiring, and delivered in a voice and manner which gave 
additional fascination to his elocution. He evidently under- 
stood the nature of his calling and delivered his sermons in 
spirit with. the sentiments they contained, believing, doubt- 
less, in the "still small voice," and eschcAving the storm and 
tempest. 

The next building to Mr. Daggett's was a low, one story 
house, occupied by two elderly ladies by the name of Har- 
vey. They kept a small shop in one of the front rooms for 
the sale of penny cakes, peppermints and candy. The old 
lady who attended the store was familiarly known and call- 
ed by the name of "Granny Harvey." Her penny cakes 
had an extensive reputation, and all the boys and girls far 
and near laid out their coppers in patronizing Granny Har- 

10 



74 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

vey. The next building was a store house, owned by Sim- 
eon Tisdale, and near tlie house occupied by him, standing 
on the site of Judge Fox's dwelling. This building lias 
been described in a former article, containing an account of 
Mr. Tisdale's store and business on Main street. 

OLD SPKING STREP:T. 

We turn now from Main street and pass down to what 
was then called Street's bridge road, running into the back 
road leading to the Weir. There were no buildings on this 
road at that time, excepting a long, low one-story house oc- 
cupied by Jonathan Thayer, a professional hog-killer, as 
well as a day laborer. He was noted for having the fat- 
test girls and boys in town. "As fat as Harry Thayer," 
was a common comparison. I believe, at this time, there 
was no bridge across the stream, which ran directly over the 
road. The girls and boys when let out from the Academy 
used to go down to Street's bridge, to jump across the 
stream from one stone to another, and the girls not unfre- 
quently slipped in and had to go home for dry stockings, 
after receiving a severe reprimand from the lady teacher. 
James Sproat, Esq., a distinguished lawyer at that time, 
built just below the stream, on the spot now occupied by 
the first building erected by Albert Field, Esq., a snuff and 
tobacco manufactory, and cut a canal leading across the 
road above to carry the water directly to the mill. This 
was at the time when Lorillard had begun to grow famous 
for the manufacture of his snuff, etc., in New York. The 
process of preparing the leaf tobacco for making snuff, and 
"nigger head" and "ladies twist" for chewing, was a secret. 
It was necessary that this secret should be found out. A 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 75 

man by the name of Cole Bullock, employed in the mill, 
was sent to New York for this purpose. He managed some 
way to get into the mills in New York and saw the machin- 
ery for grinding the tobacco for making snufF and the pro- 
cess used in preparing the nigger head for chewing. He re- 
turned, and the machinery being very simple, was soon 
made and put in place. The tobacco mill was soon under 
full operation and everything ahead looked prosperous and 
inviting. But unfortunately, during the session of the court 
here, one night the snulf mill took fire and was burned to the 
ground. 

The morning after the burning of the snufF mill was the 
scene of considerable excitement and speculation. But it 
was decided, pretty generally, that the fire was caused by 
the friction of some of the machinery. At that time the only 
provision we had for putting out fires was a little tub engine 
worked by hand brakes, which might possibly have thrown 
an inch stream some fifty or seventy-five feet. The water 
was taken from the wells in the neighborhood, or the river, 
by forming lines and passing the buckets down one side and 
up on the other side. About once in ten minutes the men 
at the brakes would get out of breath and the engine would 
cease playing until the firewards could rally from the look- 
ers on, loafers and others to take their places. The fire de- 
partment amounted to little or nothing, men worked or stood 
by idly looking on Avhen fires occurred without much fear of 
the firewards. In the course of the week after the fire, a 
handsome sum of money was subscribed by the members of 
the bar for Mr. Sproat. Insurance in those days not being 
common the losses were generally partially made up by sub- 
scription. Mr. Sproat decided to rebuild the mill, and soon 



76 BEMINISGENCES OF TAUNTON. 

had a new buildinof ready to receive the machinery. The 
business, like all new experiments, was not immediately suc- 
cessful. It was pretty hard to convince the old ladies that 
any snutf except Lorillard's was worth having, and they 
turned up their noses at this new snuff instead of filling 
them with its aromatic tinorlinoj for some time. The old to- 
baceo chewers couldn't find anything equal to the "nigger 
head" of old Virginia. The long nine cigars, however, were 
in demand, and the mill continued to run on while the snuff 
and tobacco were gradually working their way into the con- 
fidence of the consumers, as well as theirnoses and mouths. 
The Spanish and half-Spanish cigars, made from the best 
of Cuba tobacco, were equal to the imported and sold well. 
There w^ere two or three cigar makers employed generally. 
A few years after the rebuilding of the mill, Dr. Alfred 
Baylies built his house on the Street's bridge road, which 
was the first, with the exception of the Thayer house, erect- 
ed in that vicinity. The road for many years was exceeding- 
ly bad, and parties wishing to build preferred other localities. 
After a time Mr. Sproat gave up the mill and business to 
his son-in-law, Mr. Geo. B. At wood, who built a dam 
across the main river near the mill, and took the water di- 
rectly into the flume, which gave much more head and fall. 
The canal was in consequence abandoned and much more 
power obtained. In connection with the business he put 
into the mill machinery for the manufacture of mustard, and 
succeeded in making an article much purer and stronger than 
the imported article. The business gradually increased and 
promised in time to become successful and profitable. After 
the new dam w^as built the herrings in passing up the river 
swarmed in great numbers around the same, endeavoring to 



REMINISCENCES OE TAUNTON. 11 

find the passage way up. They could be seen swimming 
round just below in great numbers darkening the waters. 
Mr. Geo. Williams, who was employed in the mill, made a 
net fastened at the bottom of four hoop-poles with a loop at 
the top through which a long handle was fastened. This 
net he would drop in, sinking it nearly to the bottom of the 
stream, and as the herrings swam over the same it w^as sud- 
denly raised and filled generally with as many herrings as 
one person could handle. He caught large quantities yearly 
and salted and sold them. His fishing privilege cost noth- 
ing and was about equal to one of the town privileges. The 
business of the mill continued to increase and prosper, but 
the proprietor decided to go into something else and the bus- 
iness was unfortunately abandoned. There is no doubt that 
if he had continued the business it would have become very 
profitable and he would have made a fortune long years ago ; 
the grounds would have been covered witlj more extensive 
and capacious mills and storehouses than the splendid es- 
tablishment and various mills and buildings of A. Field & 
Sons, which now occupy the same site. The mill passed 
into the hands of Mr. Roswell Ballard and was made into 
a carding and fulling mill by him. Mr. Field hired, when 
he started in business, a small room for the putting up 'of a 
few tack and nail machines. His business increased rapidly 
and in a few years he purchased the property, having become 
one of the most popular manufacturers, and gained the high- 
est reputation for the quality of his goods of any concern in 
the country. The firm is still one of the first in the country 
and continues to maintain the same high reputation which 
it so long has had. 

Returning from Street's bridge to the four corners, and 



78 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

passing down the road leading to the Neck of Land, so call- 
ed, not a solitary house was erected on the right hand side 
of the road until you reached the two-story house next be- 
yond the burying ground. Within a few years, however, 
the Brown house and the Washburn house were both built. 

The house beyond the burying ground was occupied dur- 
ing the war of 1812 by Silas Dean, Esq., a former resident 
of Taunton, then residing at Newport. Mr. Dean removed 
from Newport to Taunton at that time, as did quite a num- 
ber of others, in consequence of apprehensions of the storm- 
ing of that town by the English cruisers, which were some- 
what plenty along our coasts during the war. There was a 
little brigantine blockading the harbor during the war, call- 
ed the Nimrod, which frightened the good people of New- 
port about once a week nearly out of their senses. This lit- 
tle craft was continually making false demonstrations of 
landing troops, under cover of the fire of her guns, by some- 
times running in shore at one place and sometimes at anoth- 
er, and she kept the Newporters on the ground hop during 
nearly all the time of the war. About twice a week the 
stage-drivers brought the news that the Nimrod was shelling 
the town or landing troops or marines at different points 
near the town. But all these rumors proved false, and the 
only object the little Nimrod had appeared to be the fun of 
frightening the Newporters. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON 



ARTICLE XI J. 



AN ADVENTURE OF THE WAR OF 1812. 

Our last "Rem." left us at Newport. The little Nimrod 
continued to bother the good peoj^le during the war. At one 
time, during the summer, a number of young men went to 
Newport from Taunton, for the purpose, as w^as the cus- 
tom, of bathing on the beach, and fishing off the harbor. 
Some half-dozen employed a skipper to take them to the 
fishing ground, and they made sail, and soon reached the 
locality, and commenced operations. They had not enjoyed 
their sport but a short time before they saw the Nimrod 
sweeping along, some miles aw^ay, but gradually rising on 
the sight. They kept a sharp look-out for her, and soon 
saw a boat lowered, and manned by some twelve men, with 
their oars on either side, start from the little craft, with an 
officer in the stern, and making directly toward their boat. 
This caused considerable anxiety, naturally, and a consulta- 
tion was held for the purpose of deciding what was the best 
to do under these circumstances. If they undertook to make 
sail, and try to run away, it was very doubtful whether they 
would succeed, and possibly, if overtaken by the barge, they 
might not fare as well, if taken, as they would if they made 
no eflxjrt to get away. So they decided to continue fishing, 
and wait results. It was not long before his Majesty's 



80 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

barge, manned by some dozen stalwart looking salts and a 
genteel looking officer, sitting in his uniform, in the stern of 
the boat, swept up alongside of their craft, and rounded to. 
The officer in command sainted the company very politely, 
inquiring as to their success, the news of the morning, etc , 
and entering very pleasantly into general conversation. Af- 
ter a very pleasant chat he invited the boat's company to 
sail down to the Nimrod, and go on board and take a look 
at her interior as well as her outward surroundings. Of 
course, our young men could do no less than accept such a 
polite and courteous invitation, and they readily assented. 
Whether any of them felt any misgivings, or wished them- 
selves safely back at Newport, is not known, but maybe in- 
ferred. At any rate, they made sail for the Nimrod, in 
company with his Majesty's barge, and officer. The Nim- 
rod was laying to at a considerable distance, and as they ap- 
proached her, the sea gi-adually grew rougher, and when 
they reached her and came along side, it was with difficulty 
they could be taken on board. However, the feat was safe- 
ly accomplished after awhile, and the young men found 
themselves on the deck of the enemy's craft. They were 
warmly and politely received by the officers on board, and 
immediately invited into the cabin. They were there shown 
the papers of the day, containing the comments upon the 
Nimrod's operations, and the general topics c f discussion 
with regard to the present state and condition of the war. 
The officers told them that, notwithstanding the strict sur- 
veillance kept along shore, they were regularly supplied with 
the papers, and all the necessary articles of food. The pa- 
pers threatened them with starvation, relying upon the loy- 
alty of the farmers in refusing supplies, and stating that no 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 81 

fresh meat or other necessaries could be obtained for their 
subsistence. But this, they said, was a mistake. The guests 
were then furnished with an ample supply of some of the 
best old brands of the best wines, and other strong ^vaters. 
And after a very pleasant chat with the officers, and a very 
agreeable and inspiring mutual introduction again before 
taking their departure, to the very tempting contents of the 
bottles, they bid their gentlemanly and hospitable entertain- 
ers a cordial good-by, hoping to see them again, under more 
friendly relations between the two belligerent powers. As 
they came on deck, the officers asked them to step forward 
a moment, towards the bow of the vessel. Upon -reaching 
the hatchway, and looking down, they discovered a fine 
young steer, which was brought on board the night before, 
and which had just been slaughtered, and the hands w^ere at 
work dressing the same. '-This is the w^ay," remarked one 
of the officers, "that your good people in the neighborhood 
endeavor to raise the blockade, and to starve us out. But 
we find that the golden boys still, as ever, continue to exert 
a ])aramount influence and control over the pockets, not to 
say the principles of the loyal Democrats of the land." The 
young men then were assisted in getting on board of their 
boat, and bidding the officers again a cordial farewell, start- 
ed with a spanking breeze, and a pretty good opinion of the 
Nimrod's officers, for Newport, which port they soon safely 
reached, and related their very pleasant and agreeable ad- 
venture. 

The blockade by the Nimrod comp(;lled our little flat-bot- 
tomed sloops to creep along shore under cover of the night, 
on their way to New York, to obtain supplies, of necessary 
articles of consumption. And the running of the same was 

11 



.S2 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

attended generally with considerable risk. The Nimrod, 
when she happened to sight a sloop running along in shore, 
would bear down on her, and after coming as near as was 
safe, on account of the depth of water, would open lire and 
blaze away, until the little craft swept into some nook oi- 
bay beyond the reach of shot. 

At this time there resided in Dightou an old sea captain, 
by the name of Maybury, who, I believe, came there to re- 
side, from Newport. He was a jolly old cove, and the Taun- 
ton men soon made his acquaintance. He kept open house, 
and quite often a company of gentlemen would take a sleigh- 
ride from our village to Dighton, and pass the afternoon and 
evening with Capt. Maybury, who was a very popular, 
agreeable and pleasant host. He had a family of girls and 
boys who were also very popular and attractive among the 
young people. One of his sons. Freeman, who went by the 
name of Free Maybury, was what is sometimes now called 
"a whole team." He was brave, fearless, and full of fire 
and energy, reckless of danger, and always ready for an 
emergency, or any dangerous enterprise. He got possession 
of a small sloop, and commenced running between Dighton 
and New York, conveying what vegetables were in demand, 
and bringing back an assorted cargo of supplies, which were 
very scarce and high at the time, in consequence of the war, 
blockading, etc. 

On one occasion Capt. Free had successfully made his 
voyage to New York and was returning with a valuable 
cargo, when passing as he thought beyond the sight and 
reach of the Nimrod and her guns, he was discovered and 
immediately he saw that a barge was being lowered from 
the latter, and judged correctly that her object was to make 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 83 

his acquaintance. He put on all the extra sail he could, run 
in shore as far as possible, and whistled for a strong breeze 
of wind, which did not come. And as he slowly made his 
way along shore the barge was evidently gaining pretty 
i-apidly upon him. He had on board an old iron swivel, 
which was kept for the purpose of firing as a minute gun of 
<listress in case of need, or for firing salutes on the Fourth 
of July. The old rusty swivel was resurrected and brought 
on deck, the rust knocked off and the inside cleaned out and 
examined. It was then charged with powder very heavily, 
hut unfortunately they had no shot on board, and they gath- 
ered all the loose spikes, bits of iron, and such other missiles 
as could be found, and filled up nearly to the muzzle the 
cannon, and then topped oflF by pounding in a lot of broken 
bottles until the piece was entirely full. Capt. Free deter- 
mined to give them a different taste from the bottles than 
that which heretofore had tickled their palates, thinking no 
doubt that when some of the lads in the bar^e next saner the 
song with the chorus of ^'twelve bottles more" they might 
possibly omit the repetition of that inspiring addendum in 
memory of the experiences of this occasion. The old swivel 
was mounted and placed in the stern of the sloop awaiting 
events. Meantime the barge was slowly gaioing upon the 
sloop, and it was evident that a collision must soon take 
place unless the old swivel when fired should impede the 
progress of the chase. Every hand on board the sloop was 
watching with intense interest the headway both of the sloop 
and the barge The gun was sighted, bearing directly upon 
the barge, and the iron rod for touching off the charge was 
red hot and ready for use any moment. Capt. Free stood 
ready at the gun, anxiously waiting for the barge to come 



84 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

within short range. Presently, when the men manning the 
barge could be distinctly seen and the officer in the stern 
clearly recognized, Capt. Free sighted his gun anew and 
called for his red hot iron and applied the same to the prim- 
ing of the gun. The result was a tremendous explosion, 
which upset the improvised mounting of the gun and shook 
the little sloop from stem to stern. For a few moments the 
hair of the crew seemed to stand on end, they said, and 
every eye was strained to see, as the smoke of the discharge 
gradually rose and was swept away by the breeze, the re- 
sult. There was evidently trouble on board of the barge, 
the men had left their oars and seemed to be moving to and 
fro, and the officer in command had disappeared. The 
barge immediately turned back and the men plied their oars 
vigorously as she returned to the Nimrod. Capt. Free 
thought that the officer and some of the men must have been 
wounded if not killed outright ; but he kept on his way and 
arrived safe, having made a very successful trip. He was 
not again attacked by the barge on any of his trips. It was 
as good as a play to hear him describe the scene, and weave 
io the nautical embellishmeuts. But we have got off sound- 
ings ; this incident, however, seemed naturally connected 
with the "Rems." 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 85, 



ARTICLE XIII 



THE NECK-OF-LAND. 



The bouse next beyoud tbat occupied by Silas Dean, Esq., 
a native of TauatoD, then recently moved from Newport, 
was owned and occupied by Philip Macomber; the next be- 
yond that was the house of Isaac Barney, a retired mechan- 
ic who had gained a competency and was living comforta- 
bly. He w^as induced, however, to go into business with 
Sam. C. Fales, a son of Judge Fales, and son-in-law of 
John West. They took a wooden building standing on the 
present site of the Dean Cotton Mill, near the old slitting and 
rolling mill, where Russia iron was rolled into nail plates 
and nail rods. They went into the manufacture of iron 
ware, but did not succeed, and Mr. Barney lost his property, 
as many others have done by not letting well enough alone. 
The next house was owned and occupied by Rufus Carver, 
a house carpenter, who plied his trade there. The next was 
the long, two-story building at the bottom of the hill, just 
by the bridge which crosses the little river, so called. This 
building was kept as a tavern during the war, by Mr. Philip 
Macomber. Here was opened a rendezvous for the enlist- 
ment of men for the U. S. service, and liquors abounded for 
the preservation of the general health of the community, as 
well as for the suitable preparation of the candidates for en- 



M REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

listment. There was stationed in town at that time a com- 
pany of Flying Artillery for the purpose of obtaining recruits 
in that department also. These were lively times for the 
boys, as the men as fast as they were enlisted were dressed 
up in U. S. uniform, and twice a day were marched through 
the town to the inspiring music of the drum and fife, and un- 
der the command of the orderly sergeant. These parades 
Avere much enjoyed by the boys, who generally followed the 
line of march and kept time to the music. The Flying Ar- 
tillery was out on practice nearly every day, and the brass 
gun, mounted on a carriage, w^as whirled by the horse from 
one place to another, unlimbered and fired with great rapid- 
ity, about as often as once per minute. This was to perfect 
the new recruits in the management of the gun and in the 
rapidity of discharging the same, and at the same time to 
discipline them for actual service. These two recruiting de- 
partments rapidly absorbed the floating population of loafers 
and chronic drunkards. In a few mouths pretty much all 
of these classes became soldiers of fortune and went to the 
war. Upon enlistment each ragged victim came out the 
next day like full blown hollyhocks, dressed in span new 
suits with glittering buttons, and flashing guns, military 
caps, knapsacks, etc. During the march the company occa- 
sionally halted, while the sergeant in command would clink 
his silver dollars in his hands as an inducement to bring in- 
to the ranks any poor, hungry victims in want of the ready. 
The town by this arrangement got clear of a large portion 
of that class which were of little or no use, and generally 
came under the head of loafers. Very few of them got kill- 
ed while in service, and after their terms of enlistment ex- 
pired they returned, but not much improved. On the oppo- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. H7 

site side of the street at Neck-of-Land bridge, stood the old 
Carver house. In this house, it was said that the Marquis 
Lafayette once slept, on his way from Newport to Boston. 
The next house, on returning to the Green, was Mr. Nathan 
Carver's, who carried on the blacksmithing business in a 
shop on the corner, for many years, and was noted for his 
industry, honesty and reliability. The next house was oc- 
cupied by Capt. William Godfrey, who was engaged in the 
coasting business and run a sloop between the Weir and 
Providence. The writer once took passage with him for 
Providence via Bristol. The sloop was partly loaded With 
bricks, which were landed at Bristol. We there took in 
some Alexandria flour for a Taunton merchant, and pro- 
ceeded to Providence, hauling up at Brown & Ives' wharf 
at Fox Point, where we loaded with bar iron for Crocker & 
Richmond, and set sail for Taunton. The voyage lasted 
some week or ten days. There was no towing up and down 
the river in those days, and the Nook and Needles had not 
been cleared out, nor the river deepened by any appropria- 
tion from Congress. The vessels Were entirely dependent 
upon wind and depth of water in navigating the river. 

The next house was owned and occupied by Mr. Zeb 
Cushmau, who was a "twenty per center," and well to do 
in the world, and also rather sharp and economical in his 
trades and living. He had a son by the name of Apollos, 
who was a lawyer and a member of the Bristol Bar. He 
resided in Pawtucket and attended the courts here regularly. 
He Avas a modest, retiring, unassuming gentleman (anomal- 
ous characteristics for a lawyer) , and one of the most elo- 
quent advocates at the Bar. He seldom addressed the 
jury, but when he did he held the attention of all. He was 



88 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

a popular and successful advocate, although not generally or 
extensively known. The next house was owned and occu- 
pied by Capt. Job King, a merchant and manufacturer, who 
had his store on Main street and his mills in Raynham, The 
Captain was an eccentric person, and his business operations 
partook of his characteristics. His business was profitable 
and if he had not been too easy and indulgent with his cus- 
tomers, and had managed his business with ordinary shrewd- 
ness, he would have- become a rich man. But owing to 
want of prompt collections of his dues and his easy, accom- 
modating disposition, he finally failed. And it was pretty 
clearly ascertained, after the assignees had settled his es- 
tate, that if it had been more promptly closed up and the 
property had brought what it should have realized, the Cap- 
tain would have come out not only solvent, but with a hand- 
some surplus. The next house was built by Mr. Rufus Car- 
ver, and afterwards purchased by William Reed, Esq., who 
resided there many years. The next was the Stoddard 
house, occupied by Capt. Stoddard. He had a son, Elijah, 
who was a cadet, and graduated at the West Point Military 
Academy. Mr. William Stoddard, a brother, I believe, of 
the old gentleman, also resided there. He was a famous 
hunter and was in the woods quite often in pursuit of game, 
which was much more abundant in those days than at the 
present time. He rarely returned from his hunting expedi- 
tions without a plentiful supply of squirrels, partridges, &c. 
In those days the old flint lock and ordinary fowling-piece 
were in use only, and it was generally necessary to tree the 
partridges before they could be shot, and of course much 
more difficult to shoot them than it is now. This house was 
the last on that side of the street until you reached the house 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 89 

now occupied by Pleiiry Hack, P^sq. The land upon, which 
it stands was then owned by the Bowels family, who subse- 
quently removed, I believe, to Boston. The house was oc- 
cupied by Mr. Wm. Stall subsequently. The last house on 
this street was a long, low, one story building, standing on 
the corner of the road, near the site of Mr. Rait's dwelling 
and opposite that of Mrs. Rounds. This little cabin was 
sometimes occupied by two and sometimes by three families. 
In one end an old colored woman, who went out to service, 
lived for a long time. • But the most celebrated occupant of 
the house was Major Elijah Macfarland — so called — from 
the fact that he took command of all the operations, private 
or public, voluntarily, which were carried on any where near 
his bailiwick. He Avas employed generally in odd jobs of 
all kinds, which no one else wanted, and he performed his 
engagements with considerable energy, promptitude and 
hurrah. "Mac" was an institution and made considerable 
noise in the world. During the war of 1812 a draft took 
place here and quite a number of the militia were drafted 
for the defence of New Bedford. Mac was hired by one 
of these soldiers, who was a Sergeant in the Green company, 
to serve in his place. He entered the service with more 
pride than the otlicer in command. And when the guard 
was set and relieved, under the command of Mac, he was 
on his high horse and made himself the laughing stock of 
the soldiers, who were amused at his dignity, pomposity and 
self-admiration. It was said that it was difficult for a 
stranger to decide who was in command of the forces when 
Mac was on the ground in all his glory. 



12 



90 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

DEAK STREET. 

From the four corners where Major Macftirland's house 
was located we take the road east, leading by the Common 
to Dean street. Between the two roads, and about midway 
of the Common, on the right hand, stood the Bristol Acade- 
my, mentioned in another paper. This was the only build- 
ing between the two roads. The old meeting-house w^as 
standing also, on the Common at the left hand. Gen. David 
Cobb, a very distinguished and influential individual, both 
in his public and professional capacity, then a resident of 
Taunton, procured from the State an act of incorporation 
for the Academy and a grant of a township of land six miles 
square in the District of Maine, as an endowment for the 
institution. Rev. Simeon Daggett, as before stated, was 
the first Principal, opening the Academy with a fine address 
on the 18th of July, 1796. The Academy under him soon 
became noted and celebrated as one of the best educational 
institutions in the State. Many young persons of both sexes 
w^ere sent here for their education. Young men were fitted 
for college, and the young ladies were taught the common 
English branches by a competent preceptress. Among the 
students were David Paul Brown, who subsequently prac- 
ticed law in Philadelphia, and became one of the most emi- 
nent and eloquent advocates at the bar in that city. This 
building was removed some years since, and the fine brick 
Academy standing near the spot was erected in its place. 
The next house was the one now occupied by Timothy Gor- 
don, Esq. This house was owned by a Mr. Barney, who 
took the students of the Academy to board. There was no 
other house on the river side leading to Raynham, excepting 
a small one-story building near the Raynham line. Return- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 91 

ing from that line, on the opposite side of the road, stood 
the large one-story house with the two magnificent elm trees 
which still sentinel the spot. This house was owned and 
occupied by Mr. Job King, the father of Capt. Job King, 
mentioned in a former article. The next house, I believe, * 
was Mr. Ebenezer Hall's, a farmer. The next, the one 
owned by Mr. Charles Dean, now known as the Williams 
Dean house. I think that the houses now occupied by 
Messrs. Williams, Mason, Bliss, Hodges Hall and Mrs. 
Leonard Hall, were not then built. There were houses oc- 
cupied by Capt. John Williams, Mr. Walter Dean, Abiel 
F. Dean and others. The house which was recently torn 
down to give place to the fine residence built by Alderman 
N. B. Dean, was a one and a half story structure and occu- 
pied by Mr. Seth Dean. The next was the house of El- 
kanah Dean, who was a celebrated conjurer, magician and 
prophet. He was known far and wide, and famous in all 
these departments. His wife also used to tell the fortunes 
of the young girls in those days. People who had lost their 
spoons, money, rings, keep-sakes, lovers, and senses, came 
trom the surrounding towns to consult conjurer Dean, and 
returned proclaiming his wondrous powers and gifts. The 
young ladies who consulted his wife were delighted, no 

*NoTE.— A well known resident, Mr. Joseph A. Hall, gives the follow- 
ing as the full and correct order of the houses on the westerly side of 
Dean street at this time : First, Job King ; second, George Dean ; thii-d, 
James Dean ; fourth, Ebenezer Hall ; fifth, Perez Hall ; sixth, Joseph 
Hall; seventh, Wm. Robinson; eighth, Increase Robinson; ninth, Seth 
Dean; tenth, Elkanah Dean; eleventh, Charles Dean; twelfth, Abiezer 
Dean ; thirteenth, Abiel F. Dean ; fourteenth, Solomon Dean ; fifteenth, 
Jonn Danforth; sixteenth, John Neal, near the corner of Elm and Dean 
street. 



92 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

doubt, in view of the brilliant prospects and splendid 
husbands of the future, which the fates had ordained 
especially for their happiness and delectation. But wheth- 
er these prophecies and predictions were realized or ever had 
a local habitation or anything but a name, may be consider- 
ed problematical. It is said the same curiosity now exer- 
cises the gentler sex, and that they sometimes seek similar 
prophetic fountains to satisfy the cravings thereof. Mr. 
Seth Dean was, I think, the father of Cromwell Dean, the 
mechanic who invented the Taunton speeder, mentioned in a 
previous article. 

The house noAv owned by Samuel Mowrey, Esq., was 
then occupied by Elkanah Dean, the conjurer mentioned 
above. This house, it was said, was used by the town in 
connection with the barracks for the soldiers in the revolu- 
tionary war. There were quite a number of intermediate 
houses occupied by various families at that time, which 
have since been removed or destroyed. One of these was 
owned by Abiel F. Dean, a somewhat celebrated and ec- 
centric character, who became famous for an expedition to 
Hoosac, which proved a failure. Abiel, like quite a num- 
ber of others on the street, liked a little fire-water occasion- 
ally, and on training days he was exceedingly patriotic and 
enthusiastic, full of millitary tactics, the spirit of freedom, 
and some other kind of spirits occasionally. This street 
had been until recently, mainly occupied by the Deans and 
the Halls. But within a tew years many new houses have 
been built here and other names now swell the number of 
persons resident here. 

The next house Avas the one now standing on the same 
site and owned and occupied by Mr. Abiczer Dean, the eel- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 93 

ebrated singiug master and for many years keeper of the old 
Taunton jail. This house is still occupied by one of his 
sons. My recollections are not very vivid or distinct in re- 
gard to this street or the persons residing here at that time, 
as I had no playmates nor acquaintances among them. Very 
possible I may have omitted soukj of the houses and their oc- 
cupants. The next house was built and occupied by Mr. 
William Woodward, a celebrated mechanic, like all of that 
name residing in the town at the time. Flis brothers were 
among the first employed in the manufactories of the place. 
This house is now owned and used for a depot by the Old 
Colony Railroad Co., at Dean street, and is a reflection up- 
on the management of that company, being entirely unfit 
for the purpose. We hope when the times become more 
prosperous that a suitable building may supply its place. 

The road at that time between the Woodward house and 
the foot of thQ hill opposite the Lovering house, was much 
lower than it now is. A portion of the way was not much 
above the surface of the river, and the farmers used to drive 
their teams to the margin of the river for water, while pass- 
ing to and fro. During the great September gale of 1815 
the tide rose and flooded the road until it reached the foot of 
the hill. In some portions of the road it must have been 
from three to six feet in depth. The water was quite salt, 
and the residents on Dean street had to make use of a ferry 
boat for some time. 

The next house was that known as Ma'am Wilbur's, and 
stood near the site of the house now owned by LeBaron 
Church, Esq. Mr. Wilbur, the occupant, owned all the land 
at that time between his house and the woods in the rear of 
the same, and reaching to the boundaries of the Halls and 



94 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

Deans lands. He was an extensive landholder and well-to- 
do in the world. After his decease the old lady opened a 
school for teaching children, which was known as Ma'am 
Wilbur's school, and all the little girls and boys in the 
neighborhood were sent there to learn the first lessons in a- 
b-cs and a-b-abs. Ma'am Wilbur was very indulgent to the 
children, allowing them to do pretty much as they pleased 
in the school room. Of course she was very popular with 
her scholars, and all of them liked her very much. 

The next house was that now occupied by T. Newbury, 
Esq. This house was built by Eliphalet Williams, Esq., 
then a merchant and resident of Boston. I think it was 
commenced in the year 1810. The master workman came 
from Boston and boarded with my father at the old Weath- 
erby tavern. I knew him very well, as he made quite a pet 
of me while at the house. He gave the writer the title of 
•'Duke," but the title was never confirmed by any higher 
powers, potentates, nor royal dignitaries. But, neverthe- 
less, he bore the title of Duke thereafter and was known and 
called by it until he became quite a young man. This house 
was considered as something very magnificent, and it was a 
splendid structure for those days, and created a great sensa- 
tion in our little village. Mr. John West, who was also a 
Boston merchant, commenced building his splendid mansion, 
now occupied by Hon. 8. L. Crocker, about the same time. 
These two buildings were considered great accessions to the 
town. Mr. Williams had two buildings, the one a fine barn 
and the other for domestic purposes, on either side of the 
house at proper distances from the same, and the frontage 
made an imposing array. He also had an extensive poul- 
try yard in the rear of the house, filled with all kinds of 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 95 

fowls from peacocks to bauties. This yard was a great cur- 
iosity, and was visited by people from all quarters. 

The house next beyond that of Mr. Williams, was a 
small, one and a half story building, removed from Dean 
street, and occupied by Mr. Ziba Babbitt, a machinist, who 
worked in the factory machine shop. The next was a small 
house occupied by Ebenezer Babbitt, watch maker, &c. He 
was the uncle of Charles Babbitt, Esq. This house stood 
near the spot on which ^stands tlie small building now occu- 
pied by one of the descendants of the family. The front 
part of this house was occupied by Mr. Ebenezer Babbitt as 
a shop. The first Congregational meeting house was built 
in 1789 and stood on the Common, nearly opposite this 
house. There were two meeting houses built before this, 
which probably stood near the same site. The first of these 
was built in 1647, and the second in 1726. The first Con- 
gregational meeting house was sold when the new stone 
church was erected, and removed to Spring street and occu- 
pied by the Universalist Society for some years, and subse- 
quently by the Spring street society. It was afterward sold 
and torn down. 

TO THE OLD SPIRE. 

Alas ! old sentinel of the ancient days, 

Tby graceful form no longer meets the eye ; 
Sad is the scene as mournfall\' avc gaze, 

Where in the past thy vane gleamed in the sky — 
Storm-scarred and stained by many wasting yearsj 

In battling bravely elemental powers ; 
Thou hast gone down, and 'mid regretful tears, 

Our hearts recur to earlier, happier hours. 
Farewell, old spire, thy fate is that of all ! 

Here as we muse above thy broken form, 
Sad memories shall weave for thee a pall, 



96 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

Impervious to the waste of time or storm. 
Sweet recollections of the past shall rise, 

The days of youth daguerreotyped in light ; 
Life's cloudless morning — hope's auroral skies — 

The earth a glorious picture, ravishing the sight, 
Shall throw a hallowed beauty round the spot, 

Made desolate by this desecrating deed; 
The auld lang sj-ne, so long ago forgot. 

Again reveal its history, that we may read 
The varying record of the days long past, 

AVhen life was young, the future a sweet dream, 
And Hope her sunlight o'er our pathway cast, 

As our light shallops swept Time's sparkling stream. 

The next was a dwelling house, standing on the site now 
occupied by the Morton block. There was no street where 
Gulliver street noAv is, nor any other streets running from 
"Main street at that time. This house was owned and occu- 
pied by Deacon Gershom Gulliver, who was a shoemaker 
and had his shop adjoining the house. He was a very con- 
scientious person and very cautious about his promises, as 
to the time when his work should be done, always making 
them conditional on what might or might not happen to 
prevent. He finally removed to the "west end" and passed 
the remainder of his life there. The next house was the old 
Babbitt mansion, the birthplace, I think, of Mr. Charles 
Babbitt, the father of George H. Babbitt, the present Mayor 
of the city. There were two or three other families of the 
same name resided in that neighborhood. The next build- 
ing was the store of Robert Dean, Esq., before mentioned 
in these articles. This building is still standing on the same 
spot, and is the last landmark of the ancient days in that 
region. Next to this store stood the dwelling house of Mr. 
Dean, which Avas removed to Cedar street a few years since. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 97 



ARTICLE XIV. 



THE NORTH SIDE OF MAIN STREET. 

The next building was the Taunton Bank, built, I think, in 
1813-14. The tirst president of the Bank was Samuel 
Fales, Esq., and the first cashier was James L. Hodges, 
P^sq. The board of directors, according to my best recol- 
lection, consisted of Samuel Fales, Eliphalet Williams, John 
West, Jonathan Ingell, and Robert Dean. I am not sure 
that I am correct as to this, however. This Bank was 
started in high political times. Party spirit ran strong and 
was very virulent between the democrats and federalists. 
The war had i-ecently been declared against Great Britain, 
and the federalists were opposed to the war, the democrats 
being in its favor. It was difficult for them to affiliate or 
work in harmony together, such was the bitterness of feeling 
excited in consequence of different opinions. When the of- 
ficers of the Bank were chosen, it was thought best there- 
fore to have an equal number of each party for the purpose 
of working harmoniously together. Under this judicious 
arrangement the Bank commenced operations, and continued 
successful and prosperous until the year 1837, when the 
failure of Crocker & Richmond, who were large debtors to 
the Bank, gave it a staggering blow, from which it took 
some years to recover. It, however, breasted the storm 

13 



98 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

maDfully aud kept along nnder the conservative and econo- 
mical administration of the directors, until it emerged from 
the shadow of the clouds resting upon it and came forth into 
the sunshine of prosperity and success, renewed, regenerated 
and disenthralled. Long may it wave and occasionally give 
us a discount I 

The next house was occupied as a store below and a 
dwelling house above, by the late William Reed, Esq., one 
of the pioneer traders of the village. The next building was 
the store of Capt. Job King, who was a manufacturer and 
did an extensive hardware business. In the rear of his 
store Mr. Chauncy Sage carried on the tin-ware business, 
and in the basement Messrs. Horton & Crandell carried on 
the baking business. Mr. Horton subsequently removed to 
New Bedford, and Mr. Crandell bought the Barnum house, 
near the old jail, and built a bake-house and carried on the 
business successfully for many years, as before mentioned. 
During the war flour advanced very rapidly, and of course 
the size of crackers diminished accordingly. We had a 
great wag here then, by the name of Timothy Ingraham, 
who was the only barber of the place at that time, and he 
was an everlasting and incessant talker. His shop was the 
headquarters for loafers, news aud scandal, and Tim's end- 
less stories and jokes kept it pretty well filled generally. 
There was then, as there always is, considerable fault found 
with the size of crackers, as well as the prices of almost 
everything else in hard times. During a discussion in Tim's 
shop in regard to this matter, he told the hearers, in order 
to illustrate the fact as to the crackers, that on going home 
he found one of his children crying, with his eye bound up 
in a handkerchief. His wife had done all she could to dis- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 99 

cover and relieve the boy, without success. He also did his 
best, but could see nothing in the eye. He therefore de- 
cided to send to Mr. Charles Babbitt's shop for an eye- stone. 
After procuring the stone, he said that he put it into the 
boy's eye, and thereupon out dropped one of Crandell's 
crackers. This story changed the name of crackers to that 
of eye-stones, for some time afterwards. 

The next was a two-story building, owned by William 
Washburn, who carried on the furuiture and cabinet busi- 
ness below and resided in the chambers. He Avas engaged 
in that business until his death. The next building was al- 
so a two-story structure with a shop below and hall above. 
It was known as Masons' Hall, as they occupied it after 
moving their lodge from Weir-bi'idge to the Green, imtil 
they erected their new building with a lodge room in the 
second story and a store below, on the site now occupied by 
the Bristol County Bank. This old Masons' Hall, with the 
exception of the Academy Hall and a small hall in the 
Tauuton Hotel, was the most suitable room for balls and 
(lancing parties in the place at that time. Most of the balls 
and public exhibitions were held here for many years. In 
the lower story there was, as before stated, a hatter's manu- 
factory. Subsequently it was occupied for various purposes. 

The next building to Masons' Hall was a store occupied 
by Tisdale &. Sangee. The next was the old Trescottman- 
Mon, since designated the fire-proof building, in consequence 
of having had conflagrations on both sides without much in- 
jury, its brick ends forming a sufficient safeguard against 
the flames. I do not remember whether this building was 
originally occupied as a tavern, or a private residence, but 
I believe it was formerly a tavern. It was at this time occu- 



100 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

pied by Mrs. Trescott. She kept a little store in the rear 
of the house, a small shop for the sale of children's play- 
things, and condiments. It was subsequently occupied by 
Simeon Tisdale, who kept a boarding house there for a time. 
And year after year it has been occupied for various pur- 
poses, down to the present time. But the progress of events 
and the growth of the city has compelled the old landmark 
to suiFer a loss of a portion of its dimensions. A new street 
has been laid out, running through a portion of the ground 
occupied by one end of the building hitherto. The old 
building thus despoiled of its fair proportions has become the 
storehouse for all kinds of rubbish, and looks down upon 
the passers by, like Patience on a monument, but by no 
means smiling at Grief. The next building was a two-story 
structure erected by Mrs. Trescott, the lower part of which 
being occupied as a dwelling, the front as a shop, and the 
upper story as a hall, with "a drawing room in the same for 
the convenience of dancing parties, assemblies, balls and ex- 
hibitions. This hall was in a convenient locality and of 
more modern construction than the other halls, and was 
therefore preferred for dancing schools, balls, etc. It was 
called Tammany Hall soon after it was built, in consequence 
of being used by the democrats. The next building was a 
large two-story dwelling house, occupied by Col. JSIathaniel 
Fales, a son of Judge Fales. The land in the rear of this 
building and all the adjoining land running parallel with 
Main street and reaching to land now occupied by the Broad- 
way stone church, was owned by Judge Fales. I do not 
knovr the distance in the rear to which his line extended. 
But there were many acres of good grass and meadow lands 
contained in the lots. Colonel Fales was rather a singular 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 101 

person, liked 'a joke exceedingly, playful and boyish in his 
manners, and took great notice of and talked as freely with 
the boys as a companion. Of course the Colonel was pop- 
ular with young America. Frequently when we were let 
out of school, which was near his office, the Colonel would 
call up the crowd around his door and taking a handful of 
chestnuts from his pockets at the same time, would throw 
them broadcast upon the ground in the same manner in 
which fowls are fed, and then shake his sides with laughter 
,to see the rough and tumble of the boys diving one over 
another for the chestnuts. The Colonel made an imposing 
and fine-looking officer, when dressed in his military garb, 
and was popular among the officers and soldiers of his regi- 
ment. In those days there were three full companies of in- 
fantry here, one in Westminster, one at Neck-of-Land and 
one at the centre, or Green, as it was called. At that time 
the State did not appropriate its hundreds of thousands of 
dollars yearly for the support of the military department. 
The Boston carterers received uo sixteen hundred dollars, 
more or less, for furnishing the Governor and his staff with 
"refreshments" when visiting the State camps of the paid 
soldiers, for the purpose of reviewing the military operations 
on those occasions, as the present arrangement of the organ- 
ized forces for the defence of the State did not then exist. 
The regimental musters took place once a year, and we all 
paid our own bills. 

At that time the law compelled every able-bodied citizen 
between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years to furnish 
at their own expense, gun, knapsack, cartridge box, prim- 
ing wire, brush, and twenty-four rounds of cartridges and 
balls, to be exhibited on the first Tuesday of May yearly. 



102 BE^IINISGENGES OF TAUNTON. 

Any soldier deficient in any one of these articles or who 
failed to appear at the regular May training, armed and 
equipped according to law, or at any other regular days of 
training, was subject to a fine and compelled to pay it when 
imposed, unless for satisfactory reasons he was excused by 
the captain of the company. It will therefore be seen that 
the military of the present day are having very easy times 
compared with the onerous labor and taxes imposed in the 
olden days. Occasionally these three companies Avould come 
together on the Green and form one body, putting all their 
music together and after marching through various portions 
of the town and returning to the Green, would, under the 
command of the various officers, go through the manifold 
evolutions incident to their profession. And then while 
resting under arms there was always detailed two or more 
of the soldiers for the purpose of furnishing and dispensing 
the necessary articles of refreshment and lubrication. Of 
the men detailed for this purpose one carried a water-pail 
filled with the best old West India rum, and the other car- 
ried a pail of water in one hand and in the other sometimes 
a basket of ginger-bread, crackers and cheese. The pail 
containing the ardent generally gave out before the water 
Avas exhausted, and the soldiers always seemed to be reviv- 
ed and ready for the remaining military duties of the day, 
after heartily partaking of these refreshments. It was ob- 
servable, how^ever, that after being dismissed some of them 
did not march with the same straightforward steps which 
they did to the music of the fife and drum while in 'their 
companies. This might possibly have been owing to tight 
boots and tender corns. This disgression has lead us away 
from the Colonel, whose sketch we had not finished. His 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 10;5 

father was judge of the court of Common Pleas and through 
his influence the Colonel was appointed the clerk of the 
courts. He had his office in a small building of his father's 
and he continued to serve in his official capacity for some 
time. But he didn't like to work, and he had no idea of 
system or order, and the result was that the papers of the 
office got mixed into inextricable condition — some were 
thrown into old baskets, others into desks, pigeon-holes, &c., 
and some couldn't be found at all. The records were net 
made up and there was neither form nor order in the office. 
The consequences were that the Colonel had to abandon his 
position as clerk, and James Sproat, Esq., was appointed in 
his place. The books and the papers were packed up in 
bulk and carried to his office, where two or three young 
men were employed a long time in selecting and assorting 
the various documents and recording the same. The Col- 
onel after this had no regular business, and spent his time 
in raising chickens and visiting his neighbors, gradually be- 
coming of less and less consequence and fading out into a 
common personage amid the fallen fortune of the family. 
The next building was a small shop, where the shoemaking 
business was carried on. In the rear of this building was 
a large yard and an ample barn for the judge's stock of cat- 
tle. He owned large lots of land in various parts of the 
town, kept a large force of hired men, and cut great quan- 
tities of hay, &c. He probably owned the largest amount 
of land of any person in the town, and the largest number 
of stores and buildings. He was one of the important dig- 
nitaries of the town, wealthy, influential and politically pop- 
ular. He held the office of clerk of the courts for many 
years and was finally appointed Chief Justice of the Court 



104 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

of Common Pleas. His son Nathaniel, as stated above, suc- 
ceeded him in the clerkship for a short time. The judge 
sustained many important offices in the various departments 
of the Government. He died in Boston while serving as a 
councillor of the Commonwealth. 

The building next beyond the shoe shop was a small 
cottage occupied by "'Aunt Carver," as she was familiarly 
called. She was an elderly lady and a dressmaker, patron- 
ized by all the women far and near. She was very popular 
and much esteemed by all parties. But the income from her 
profession was not over abundant ; she was, however, such 
a favorite that she managed to get along very comfortably. 
The writer, when a boy, carried her many a good warm 
dinner fresh from the hotel table. People geneially were 
interested in the prosperity of Aunt Carver. Mr. John 
West, then recently from Boston, who was a gentleman of 
generous and noble impulses, ever willing to contribute lib- 
erally of his means to all worthy objects of charity and phil- 
anthropy, and prompt to assist those in humble circumstances 
who were endeavoring to assist themselves, proposed to 
furnish a circulating library for Aunt Carver, to assist her 
in making both ends meet more easily. And through his 
generosity and influence a sum of money was raised suffi- 
cient to purchase quite a library. With this additional in- 
come Aunt Carver managed to get along very comfortably. 
As characteristic of Mr. West, we may mention in this con- 
nection the following incident : He had in his employ an 
honest, hard-working man by the name of Robert G off, who 
will be well remembered by many people here. Mr. Goff 
came from Rehoboth, and at the time he left there he was 
indebted to a person in the sum of some thirty or forty dol- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 105 

lars, which he was unable to pay just then. After he had 
been in the employ of Mr. West a short time, his creditor 
called and demanded the payment of his debt. Goff was 
not in the condition to pay, but promised that he would do 
so as soon as possible. But the creditor, no doubt thinking 
Mr. West would pay rather than have G off go to jail, insis- 
ted on immediate payment or he would bring a suit. Under 
these circumstances. Golf informed Mr. West of the 'facts. 
Tell him to wait a short time and I will pay him, replied 
Mr. West. Goff, after informing his creditor that Mr. 
West would pay him the amount of his claim if he would 
wait a short time until he, Goff, could earn a part of it, re- 
turned to Mr. West with the answer that if the claim was 
not paid immediately the creditor Avould sue it and send him 
to jail. Mr. West was a man whose passions were easily 
excited ; he was as quick as a flash to explode when any- 
thing suddenly occurred to disturb his temper and throw 
him oif his guard. His reply to GofF was, "D — n him ; tell 
him to go to — Rehoboth, and be d — d. Let him sue and 
be — you go to jail and I will bail you out for the liberty of 
the yard, and at the end of thirty days you can swear out 
and I will pay you a dollar per day for the time you lose 
by so doing." The result was that Goff went to jail for 
thirty days, enjoyed the liberty of the yard, received his 
thirty dollars, swore out, and his creditor lost his claim. 
This was the result of too much anxiety for speedy pay- 
ment, and the want of a little common sense and accommo- 
dation. To return to Aunt Carver and her circulating li- 
brary — we find that it soon became very popular and Avell- 
patronized. The new novels and other interesting books were 
from time to time added, until she had a very good assort- 

14 



106 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

ment and was in the receipt of quite an additional income. 
The writers of fiction were few in those days compared to 
the countless hosts of the present. A limited number of 
American novels and but few American authors were then 
known. The most celebrated writers of fiction soon after 
the Revolution were Susanna Rowson, Hugh H. Breck- 
enridge, and Charles Brockden Brown. Charlotte Temple, 
Mrs. Rowson's novel, obtained a circulation of 25,000 cop- 
ies. Breckenridge's most celebrated work was Modern 
Chivalry, and those of Brown, our first professed novelist, 
were Arthur Mervyn, Edgar Huntley, Clara Howard, and 
Wieland. Mr. Brown evidently possessed genius, but 
neither his works nor his genius were adequately appreciat- 
ed. At this time the English cry of ''Who reads an Amer- 
ican book," was thrown into our teeth with derision and 
scorn. But the tables are somewhat turned just now. 
American books are quite popular across the water, and the 
English taunting has ceased considerably. 

The young ladies of those days were obliged to content 
themselves with the mysteries of Udolpho Castle, Mrs. 
Opie's Tales, Charlotte Temple, Romance of the Pyrenees, 
etc., but they seemed to get along just as well then as they 
now do with an avalanche daily of new novels and sensation- 
al literature. Aunt Carver went on prosperously in business 
and in due time was gathered iu peace to her fathers. 

The next building to the one she occupied was a cabinet 
maker's shop, then recently opened by Nathan Fisher, a 
young man, who had decided to make Taunton his place of 
residence. He manufactured the nicest kind of mahogony 
furniture, such as sideboards, bureaus, card tables, etc., and 
he was a very industrious, prudent and reliable person. He 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 107 

of course prospered, as sueli people generally do. He Avas 
rather peculiar in some respects, very much set in his opin- 
ions and obstinate, determined and persevering in regard to 
jjis decisions, as to what was, and what was not right. He 
was not naturally talkative nor egotistical, but when he 
made up his mind he was there., blow high or low. • If he 
decided to do anything, he generally did it without much 
talk. On one occasion, when the Fourth of July was cele- 
brated, and the politics of the "feds." and ''dems." were as 
hot as red pepper, he with a number of other young men of 
his party, who were feds., were standing in a crowd where 
the politics of the day were being warmly discussed. The 
discussion soon became general, and gradually grew warmer 
and warmer, when a democrat in reply to Uncle Nathan, 
said something insulting with a braggadocio air and high- 
felutin manner. Uncle Nathan made no reply, but turned 
about and made direct for his boarding house. He soon, 
however, emerged from that and came directly back to the 
crowd which still remained on the spot in hot discussion 
upon the merits and disadvantages of the war. Uncle Na- 
than it seemed had gone home for the purpose of divesting 
himself of his best broadcloth swallow-tailed coat, and he 
had returned with his round jacket on, which was one he 
worked in when in the shop. He marched directly into the 
centre of the ring, walked up deliberately to the individual 
who had insulted him, and without speaking a word he drew 
l)ack his list and gave the chap a blow which sent him 
tumbling to the ground. He then turned deliberately round 
and waited the result, but his opponent after getting up a.nd 
dusting himself didn't seem disposed to renew the discussion 
or to retaliate, although there was quite a number of his 



108 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

friends on the grouod, as well as those of Uncle Nathan's. 
This coup d' eclat^ or peroration to the argument seerned to 
be entirely satisfactory to his democratic opponent and his 
party, and the crowd dispersed without further discussion. 
Uncle Nathan was a great musician, a brother of Elias 
Fisher, and belonged to the Taunton Band. 

The next building was a two-story structure with a store 
below and a dwelling house above. The store was occupied 
by a Mr. Scott, who carried on a large business in company 
with Judge Fales and kept a great variety of goods. Mr. 
Scott was a Scotchman and particularly noted for his pleas- 
ant manners and extreme politeness. From this store there 
was a long one-story block of buildings containing four 
rooms, and reaching to what was called the "green store," 
(near the house of the Judge), on account of its being paint- 
ed green. In this block, the first room was occupied by 
Elkanah Andrews, a harness maker, who lived in the 
chambers of the Scott store. Mr. Andrews carried on his 
business there for many years. He was sharp at a trade, 
saving and industrious, and accumulated a competency. He 
built the block (or a portion of the same) , Avhich stood on 
the site now occupied by Abner Pitts, Esq.'s brick dwelling 
house and jewelry store. This block of brick buildings was 
built by Andrews, Washburn, Dean and Babbitt, and was 
destroyed in the great fire of 1838. 

The other three apartments in the block, beside that oc- 
cupied by Mr. Andrews, were generally used for school 
rooms, offices, barber's shops, etc. In the rear was the 
Judge's garden, which was a large tract of land running 
back to the rear of his house. It was filled with fruit trees, 
flowers and shrubbery, and highly cultivated, producing the 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 109 

choicest of the various kinds of fruits and vegetables. The 
next room in the building adjoining that of Mr. Andrews, 
was occupied by a barber by the name of Center, who came 
to Taunton from Newport during the war, not wishing, I 
suppose, to have his hair cut or his razors sharpened by any 
of the crew of the Nimrod. Mr. Center was a fashionable 
barber and created quite a sensation after opening his shop. 
He was nearly as loquacious as our friend Timothy on the 
other side of the Green, whom our good old parson Pipon, 
on one occasion when Timothy was shaving him, advised to 
procure a parrot for the purpose of occasionally relieving 
him of his superfluous chattering. Mr. Center brought new 
styles and fashions in the way of hair dressing, curling and 
powdering. He drew, as most new things do, and the crowd 
patronized him strongly. He pomatumed, powdered, curled 
and dressed the hair of all the young beaux for their danc- 
ing parties, balls, etc., and was prosperous and popular with 
that class, while the old people still patronized Timothy the 
talker. The third room was occupied as a school room, and 
the writer attended school there some years under the tui- 
tion of Miss Harriet Prentice. The last and fourth room 
was occupied by Nathaniel Fales while he held the office of 
Clerk of the Courts, and subsequently was used for various 
purposes. 

THE OLD GREEN STORE. 

The next building was the famous "Green store," kept 
by Fales & Earl. The store was large and capacious, run- 
ning back from the street with a large L building adjoining 
in the rear, and a separate counting room in the rear of that. 
The front building was much narrower and two stories high. 



110 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

The store was filled with a complete assortment of all kiuds 
of goods in demand, among which we may particularize the 
French shoes, the heels of wdiich were made, say three 
inches high, of wooden blocks covered with leather and tap- 
ering to the size of a half-cent at the bottom of the heels, 
while the vamps and quarters were of lasting, twilled silks, 
heavy satins and other cloths of various colors. The toes 
of the shoes were as sharp as some of the noses of our bank 
presidents (who scent a 10 per cent, note farther than a dog 
can his master) and turned up in a point like a Turkish 
slipper. How the young ladies or the elder fashionables 
could endure these torturing machines at their parties or 
balls, it is difficult to understand. But we know that even 
now in these latter centennial days our fair and beautiful 
young maidens too often become the voluntary martyrs to 
the Procustean demands of fashion. And why they thus 
torture themselves is still as mysterious as the problems 
which surround the creation of the Sphinx. They certainly 
cannot obey these behests of fashion for the purpose of gain- 
ing the admiration of their own sex. And it is certain that 
they do not care a tinker's whistle for that of the opposite 
gender. If they did, they would not put themselves so eon- 
.stantly into that condition which compels such adverse criti- 
cism and condemnation on the part of this class of fault- 
finders, a class who had much better mind their own busi- 
ness and occasionally take a look into the mirror which re- 
flects their own characters, manners and habits. But this 
kindof moralizing hasn't much to do with the old Green 
store or its contents. For many years this store had a great 
popularity and a large trade, and added to the abundant 
Avealth of Judge Fales, who seemed to be engaged in all of 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. Ill 

the most profitable business affairs iii the town. In course 
of time Mr. Earl deceased and the business was wound up, 
and the store was let to other parties, one of which was 
Samuel Gushee. He kept a general assortment of the va- 
rious kinds of goods in demand. The writer, w^hen a boy, 
was employed as a young clerk in the store for some two 
years. It was here that he had an opportunity of examin- 
ing the various kinds of goods then out of date, which were 
stored up-stairs as unsaleable. He regrets that he did not 
secure some of these curiosities, as they would now be par- 
ticularly interesting for the centennial celebration. Mr. 
Gushee's health failing, he closed his business and went 
South, and the store was unoccupied for sometime after. 

JUDGE FALES' MANSION. 

The next building was the imposing and elegant mansion 
of Judge Fales. This was two stories high and running 
back, broad and deep, with a long building connected with 
the main house in the rear, two stories high, and with a 
large number of rooms for servants in the upper story. Ad- 
joining was the carriage houses, barn and sheds. There 
was a fine front yard with a handsome and substantial fence ; 
also a sidewalk, and a large open space between that and 
the street, wide enough for a carriageway, along the whole 
frontage. On the border, near the street, there was a row^ 
of splendid elm trees (now no more), making a fine and 
grateful shade m the summer along the whole distance. This 
house was considered at that time to be the palace of the 
town. It was splendidly fitted and furnished within, and 
the Judge and his family were on the highest seats in the 



112 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

temple of the aristocracy and ranked among the most prom- 
inent dignitaries in the town. The Judge owned a large 
farm, situated about a mile from the Green, on the Provi- 
dence road, called the Barney farm, on which he cut large 
quantities of hay and raised an ample stock of vegetables. 
On this farm there was a splendid orchard, producing large 
supplies of the finest kind of apples. The boys generally 
knew which trees bore the most palatable apples, and like 
their great grand ma, E\e, did not hesitate occasionally 
(and sometimes in the evening) to pluck, eat and carry 
away a few, contrary to the law in such case made and pro- 
vided ! The Judge was a great farmer, employed many 
laborers, and lived in great style until his death, which oc- 
curred in Boston, as mentioned previously. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 113 



ARTICLE XV. 



KNOTTY WALK. 



The next building was the two-story structure now known 
as "knotty walk" market, and now occupied by Messrs. 
White & Co. and others. This building was then occupied 
by Fales & Seabury, who kept mainly groceries and liquors, 
and they did the largest business in this line of any store in 
the place. They always had on hand the choicest brands 
of wine and the best and most celebrated kinds of liquors. 
This was headquarters for those supplies, and the country 
dealers for miles around supplied their Avants here. The 
tavern-keepers and the retailers of the town generally pur- 
(•hased their liquors here also. If the writer had a cask or 
two (which would be but a small portion of what he carried 
away in demijohns for the supply of the bar-room of the 
hotel at which he lived) of the pure old Madeira, Jamaica, 
St. Croix and Holland gin sold in those days, he would give 
a general invitation to a few of the radical teetotalers (such 
as were able "to stand up and be counted") to drop in and 
test the quality, just to see if they couldn't be induced to 
discriminate a little in their fiery denunciations against the 
use of any and all kinds of liquors under any circumstances. 
They might object perhaps to the effect produced (if they 
chanced to be thirsty) , but it is just possible that they 

15 



114 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

would not condemn the taste nor pronounce the article a 
deadly poison. Fales & Seabury did a very large business 
and their goods were mostly purchased in Boston and 
brought here by the regular baggage wagon line and by the 
teams of the farmers. The Lincolns of the north end and 
the Bassetts and teamers on the line of the old Bay State 
road were employed in this business. It generally took 
about three or four days to make the trip, and they 
were compelled to use a good part of the nights also. The 
price paid was four dollars to five per ton. It is ditficult to 
see where the profit came in, as, I suppose, tlmt a five cat- 
tle team could not bring more than two and a half to three 
tons at a load. But these farmers carried their hay and 
grain for the teams and a box of provisions sufficient for the 
trip, and if they stopped to rest their teams, they also took 
a snooze in the wagons. So the outlay for the journey was 
not much and a dollar then was more than two dollars now. 
They were always very glad to obtain the jobs at any rate. 
In 1824 to 1828, when the writer was in Whittenton 
store, the most of the carting to and from Boston was done 
by the farmers. 

After the death of Judge Fales, the business of Fales & 
Seabury was closed up and the estate was after many years 
settled by the executors. The Avidow and the family re- 
moved to Bristol, R. I. When the real estate was sold 
Crocker & Richmond purchased the land on which the 
Green store and the small block adjoining stood. They 
opened the street on the land occupied by these buildings, 
and built the brick store now owned by White, Child & Co. 
In this store Messrs. W^. & S. L. Crocker & Co. commenc- 
ed business, and after a short time abandoned the same and 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 115 

went into the manufacturing business, from which has 
growm up the large and prosperous manufacture of sheet 
copper, yellow metal, copper bolts and rollers, zinc, nails, 
&c., still in operation here and in Norton. When the prop- 
erty of Fales & Seabury w^as sold, the store occupied by 
them were taken by Messrs. Hodges &. Seaver — the former 
a son-in-law of the Judge, and the latter a clerk of the firm 
of Fales & Seabury. They subsequently purchased the store 
and carried on the business for many years. Mr. Seabury, 
throuofh the failure of his son, who was doinsr business in 
Boston under the firm of Seabury & Andrews, became in- 
volved as an endorser and lost his property. He subsequent- 
ly hired the store which stood where Wm. Reed & Co.'s 
store now stands, and for many years transacted a prosper- 
ous business, and finally purchased the store. The store 
was burned in the great fire, and re-built and subsequently 
occupied by his son, who continued the business. Mr. 
Seabury was a strict Hopkinsian in his religion and the 
strongest kind of federalist in his politics. Argument w^ith 
him on either of these topics was useless ; he was firm, un- 
bending and decided. He was a fifer in the revolutionary 
army, and after Congress enacted the pension law he ap- 
plied for a pension. His chirography was very elegant, and 
although far advanced in age there was no more finished 
and splendid signature to be found than his. His petition, 
which stated his age and services, when presented to the 
<lepartment at Washington w^as pronounced a forgery on the 
ground that no one of the age stated in the petition could 
write such a hand. The petition was declined and returned 
to him, and he was compelled to obtain the certificates of 
the prominent men in the place to verify the genuineness of 



116 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

the same. The next house beyond the store of Fales & 
Seabury was that which adjoins the same at the present 
time (known as the Morton house). Formerly there was a 
passage-way between the store and the house, but after the 
purchase of both estates by the present proprietor the two 
buildings were connected by the addition between them. I 
have no distinct recollection who owned this house at that 
time, but it was then occupied by Elias Fisher. This house 
was, I think, formerly owned and kept as a tavern by a 
Mr.^McWhorten, one of the old tavern-keepers of the town. 
I have no recollection of liim, but I think it was called the 
McWhorten House when I was a boy. Formerly there was 
a pretty large barn in connection with it, which strengthens 
the probability that this was the old McWhorten tavern, 
celebrated as one of the best in the place in those days. 
Subsequently the house and land adjoining were purchased 
by Hon. Marcus Morton, who built the office now occupied 
by Mr. Geo. H. Babbitt, Jr., and for many years resided 
in the house. He subsequently built and resided, until his 
death, in the large and imposing mansion situated on what 
was then called the Crocker lot ; it fronts what is known 
now as Washington street. 

UNCLE JESSE SMITH AND HIS STAGE LINES. 

The next building beyond "knotty walk" was the large 
and capacious stable, with its adjoining wings for the gran- 
ary department and also as lodging rooms for the stage 
drivers, built by Uncle Jesse, as he was familiarly called, 
about 1813-14. He was yearly adding new lines of stage 
routes, and was compelled to have inrceased accommoda- 
tions for his carriages, horses and men. Lines of stages 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 117 

were then running from Newport to Boston, New Bedford 
to Boston, Tcaunton to Boston, and Providence daily. And 
later, accommodation stages were put on in addition to 
these, which run daily to Boston and Providence, and mail 
stages to Warren, Biistol and Wareham. All these cen- 
tered here, and at eleven o'clock each day these four-horse 
teams came thundering through our streets and driving up 
to the hotel in grand style, creating considerable stir and 
excitement and sometimes raising considerable dust. Here 
some of the passengers stopped to dine ; others changed 
stages for various points to which they were bound. Uncle 
Jesse was always on hand ; amid the centre of all he loomed 
up, overlooking, ordering and directing, bringing order out 
of confusion, and seeing that the passengers were all seated 
in the proper stages and the baggage placed on the racks 
securely. If a stray article or umbrella was found uncalled 
for, he seized the same and holding it up would call out, 
''Who owns this coat, box or what not?" — "'Whose 'ram- 
beriir is this?" until the parcels were claimed. In the 
course of an hour or so the stages were all off and quiet 
again restored. The stage business here was quite an ac- 
quisition ; it not only added to the prosperity of the place, 
but served daily to relieve the dullness and monotony inci- 
dent generally to country towns. 

The staging business continued to increase until the ad- 
vent of the railroads, which superseded and brought it to a 
close. Mr. Smith prospered during many years in the busi- 
ness. He was a self-made man, with no advantages of early 
education, byt possessed good, practical common sense, 
sound judgment and executive ability. He was a good 
neighbor, generous and liberal in his contributions in aid 



118 BEMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

of public improvements or private charities, and always 
ready to respond to their demands. He liked to have peo- 
ple enjoy themselves, and was always ready and anxious to 
contribute his exertions to that end. In those days we were 
favored with old-fashioned winters, when the snow usually 
besfan to fall in November and continued from time to time 
throughout the winter months. The ground was usually 
covered from two to three feet in depth, and the sleighing 
was always very fine after the snow drifts had been cut 
through and the tracks well beaten. Quite often after the 
first snow storm made its advent and the roads had become 
well beaten, Mr. Smith, without consultation with others 
or forming any plans with them, would call on his neigh- 
bors in the forenoon and inform the ladies and gentlemen 
that they must be ready for a sleigh-ride and supper that 
night, that the stage-sleigh would call at the door at four 
o'clock for a ride to Sampson's Hotel at Middleboro, or to 
Pratt's in Bridgewater, as the case might be. He would go 
the rounds until he had secured enough to fill either two or 
three four-horse stage-sleighs, havmg previously sent word 
to the tavern-keeper to have his rooms warm, and a turkey 
supper ready at 10 p. m. for such a number of persons as he 
designated. The people always responded gladly to these 
impromptu parties of Uncle Jesse's, and he never failed in 
securing a number sufficient to fill his stage-sleighs. The 
parties were made up mostly of the middle aged married 
people, with such young ladies as chanced to be visiting in 
the families. They generally had a fiddler provided for the 
occasion, and old and young tripped the light fantastic toe 
to their hearts content during the evening, returning in the 
small hours of the night well satisfied and highly gratified 
with Uncle Jesse's sleighing party and its concomitants. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 119 



NORTH STREET. 

The house beyoud Mr. Smith's barn was tliat of Dr. 
George Leonard, built about the same time, a little later 
perhaps than the barn was built. In this house the Doctor 
lived until a short time before his death. He had an ex- 
tensive practice, and was a remarkably pleasant, kind and 
warm-hearted gentleman. He was the son of Hon. Samuel 
Leonard, who was an extensive manufacturer, engaged 
principally in the iron business, and kept a large store at 
Hopewell, nearly opposite his elegant mansion house with 
its capacious carriage buildings and out-houses. Mr. Leon- 
ard was among the earliest iron manufacturers of the place, 
and ranked high among its aristocracy of blood and wealth. 
It was said that when he visited Saratoga Springs, his es- 
tablishment consisted of a coach and four horses with driver 
and postilion. The Doctor's house stood upon the site now 
occupied by Jones' block. Leonard street was not then 
opened. 

The house next beyond that of Dr. Leonard's was that of 
Mr. Seabury's. This was a large, old-fashioned, two-story 
structure, and stood near the site now occupied by the Bris- 
tol County Savings Bank. He had a large garden lot in 
connection with the same, a part of which is now occupied 
by the stone church of the Trinitarian Society. Mr. Sea- 
bury was an active and efficient member and one of the 
principal founders of this society. Their first meeting house 
was built in 1821-2, and stood upon a portion of the site 
now occupied by Jones' block. There were no houses on 
the street leading into Washington street. Nearly in front 
of his residence on the opposite side of the street was the 



120 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

large garden formerly owned by Judge Padelford, subse- 
quently purchased by Hon. S. Crocker. In the corner of 
this garden, fronting the main road, there was a small one- 
story cabin or cottage occupied by Aunt Chloe, a colored 
woman, who was a popular mistress of all kinds of work. 
She was always ready in all cases of emergency to fill up 
the vacancies which occurred. She used to do a good part 
of the work required by the families on extra occasions, and 
generally was found equal to the emergency and gave satis- 
faction. She was employed also by certain parties — before 
the days of temperance societies — in transacting certain se- 
cret shopping operations, one, and the most prominent of 
which, was the purchasing of the fire-waters for the delect- 
ation of certain thirsty heads of families in town. The 
waiter then was a clerk in the store of Messrs. Hodges & 
Seaver, and Aunt Chloe was a regular daily visitor there 
for the purpose of having her little half-pint "pistols" 
charged. But "mum" was the word with her; she never 
revealed the names of those who employed her. She was 
also celebrated for curing warts, and all the boys and girls 
who were troubled with them Avent to Aunt Chloe. She 
served her day and generation w^ell, and w as looked up to 
by her colored friends — of whom there were then in the 
place many families — as a kind of mother and teacher, 
Avhose advice must be heeded. Approaching the Green, the 
next building was the office of Nicholas Tillinghast, Esq., 
who was a native of Providence, R. L, and among the wit- 
tiest, shrewdest, most humorous and eloquent members of 
the Bar. On one occasion when he had a case on trial and 
the counsel on the other side was making rather a long- 
winded and uninteresting address to the jury, Mr. Tilling- 



REJfimSCENCES OF TAUNTON. 121 

hast fell asleep, Icauing his head upon the table, and so con- 
tinued until his opponent had finished his argument. When 
a brother lawyer touched him gently he awoke and im- 
mediately arose and addressing the judge and jury went on 
to say that he felt embarrassed in attempting a reply to the 
exceedingly eloquent and masterly address of his learned 
brother, and complimenting him in the highest terms for 
the ingenuity and skill with which he had labored to make 
the wrong appear the right ; but he trusted the jury would 
not be misled, notwithstanding the eloquent speech of his 
learned brother, to which they had all listened with so much 
delight and satisfaction ; and scarcely a Avord of which had 
he heard during its delivery. In another important case, 
which had been very ably argued by celebrated counsel of 
the opposite side, he committed it |o the jury very briefly 
as follows : "Gentlemen of the jury, Doctor Padelford says, 
as you have heard, and Doctor Barnes says, as you have 
heard," they being the opposing counsel, "but Doctor 
Mansfield says as you shall now hear !" He then read a 
convincing and satisftictory contradictory statement of the 
law as laid down by the noble lord. "Now when Doctors 
disagree, who shall decide ?" And by this short speech he 
gained the verdict of the jury. The writer heard Hon. 
Francis Baylies relate the following repartee by Mr. T. : 
Mr. Baylies, on returning from the meeting Thanksgiving 
day, mei Mr. Tillinghast in the sitting-room of the hotel, 
and in the course of conversation Mr. B. said to Mr. T. 
that he had deposited a ten cent piece in the contribution 
box to be placed on interest until he reached heaven. Mr. 
T. instantly replied, "Ah, yes, that will amount to a very 
large sum before you will be admitted there." Mr. Tilling- 

16 



122 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

hast's house stood upon the corner of the site fronting the 
Green, where the City Hotel now stands, and his office stood 
on the same premises, fronting the Boston road, 

Mr. Tillinghast was a representative to the General 
Court at the time the citizens here petitioned for the char- 
ter of Taunton Bank. He was, I think, either chairman, 
or a member of the Committee on Banks and Banking. 
When this petition was under consideration, certain Boston 
parties, wdio in those days undertook to rule both the State 
and the Legislature, opposed its being granted. They 
doubtless thought that Boston was competent to furnish all 
the banking facilities required by the State, and that the 
little herring town of Taunton, could do their banking bus- 
iness in a currency of brick and herrings, using the scales 
of the herrings for small change, and in case of an emer- 
gency furnishing each man with a brick for his hat. So 
they did their best to prevent a favorable report on the pe- 
tition for a bank in Taunton, and succeeded by a small ma- 
jority of the committee. During the session, however, there 
was a petition presented from Boston for a new bank, which, 
when under consideration in committee, Mr. Tillinghast at- 
tacked and opposed, quoting the opposition which the same 
gentlemen (who favored its being granted) had made to the 
petition which he presented from his constituents, who had 
no banking facilities whatever. And he came down upon 
these persons like a thousand of bricks, and with such in- 
vincible logic, eloquence and sarcasm as to prevent a favor- 
able report. Thus the financial representatives of the Hub 
were baffled by a comparatively unknown country lawyer. 
This was an unheard of state of things — Boston representa- 
tives to be thus beaten in their own baliwick by a single in- 



RE31IN1SCENCES OF TAUNTON. 123 

dividual, from an insignificant conntiy town, and an inex- 
perienced legislator, also, who had no infkiential friends in 
the Legislature, was not to be thought of, much less endur- 
ed, and they did their level bestto reverse the action of the 
committee by calling forth their strongest forces in the 
House. But they were answered by Mr. Tillinghast in a 
manner so convincing and conclusive that they failed of suc- 
cess. Finding that they could not succeed they compromised 
and allowed both petitions to come before the House with 
favorable reports, and they were both granted. After this 
experience the prominent members of the House did not 
fail to consult Mr. Tillinghast's opinions when any impor- 
tant measures were presented for consideration, and he con- 
tinued to exercise much influence during the session of the 
Legislature. The next house beyond 31r. Tillinghast's, 
was that of Captain Silas Williams, of whose antecedents 
the writer has no distinct recollections. After a number of 
years Mr. Smith purchased this house and resided in the 
same, having built an addition in the rear for his large fam- 
ily. After the death of Mr. Tillinghast, Mr. Smith pur- 
chased the estate which adjoined his own, and which gave 
him ample accommodations. He also used Mr: Tillinghast's 
law office, making it a depot for the bundles and packages 
sent and received by the stages. Here also was kept the 
stage books for registering the names of passengers for va- 
rious destinations. In a few years after this purchase, Mr. 
Smith decided to build a hotel, better suited to the wants of 
the increase of the town, and the passengers of the stages, 
and he erected a large brick hotel, which, if it had been 
properly planned, might have answered with some additions 
perhaps, until the present time. But the plan of the house 



124 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



was a failure, aud although kept by different parties, for 
many years the accommodations were so limited that the 
landlords could not make much money. The main hall was 
hardly Jarge enough for dancing parties, or for a dining 
room, aud the front rooms were very small. The lodgiug 
rooms were well enough for the most part, but there were 
not enough of them. However, the house was well kept 
and patronized, until it took fire and was partially burnt. 
Subsequently, a stock ccmpany was formed, and the present 
City Hotel was built. But this was as much too costly for 
the times and the amount of the business as the other was 
in the opposite direction. Quite a number of celebrated 
caterers tried their hands in keeping it, but the patronage 
was not sufficient to maintain it, and they were compelled 
to abandon the premises with severe losses. Under these 
varying fortunes it continued until it was sold to a new 
company, who after altering a portion of the building — 
making stores below and offices above and reserving &uffi- 
cient room for hotel accommodations, succeeded in makmg 
not only the hotel, but the investment a pecuniary success. 

The next house, fronting the Green, beyond Captain 
Williams, wa>^ that of Hon. Samuel Crocker, grandson of 
the Rev. Josiah Crocker, one of the early ministers of Taun- 
ton. Josiah Crocker, the eldest of Rev. Mr. Crocker's chil- 
dren previously occupied this house. He was noted as hav- 
ing commanded a company, stationed at Newport in time of 
the Revolution. He was also a deputy sheriff, a man of con- 
siderable consequence in those days. Hon. Samuel Crocker 
succeeded his father-in law, Apollos Leonard, Esq., as town 
and county treasurer, holding office for some twenty-five 
years. He was a representative to the General Court from 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 125 

the year 1806 to 1813. He was also a member of tlie Sen- 
ate from 1813 to 1817, four years, and a councillor for some 
years, dm'ing the administration of Gov. Brooks. His pol- 
itics were of the strongest federal stamp. He generously 
donated to the town the lot for the Mount Pleasant Ceme- 
tery, a very appropriate and beautiful locality, formed by 
nature apparently for this exact purpose, and his name will 
be gratefully remembered by the present and coming gener- 
ations for this generous bequest. The erection of a monu- 
mental arch in the cemetery in honor of his memory and in 
commemoration of this noble gift would not be inappropri- 
ate perhaps. He was among the earliest capitalists in es- 
tablishing the manufacturing interests of the place, and, as 
mentioned in a former article, the senior partner of the firm 
of Crocker, Bush & Richmond. They gave the first impe- 
tus, and laid the foundation to those branches of business 
which added largely to the wealth, prosperity and popula- 
tion of the town. The later firm of Crocker & Richmond, 
introduced here the first manufacture of print cloths in, I 
think, 1822 or 1823. This was the first manufactory of 
calicoes in the country. Subsequently a stock company was 
formed with a large capital, the stock holders being wealthy 
citizens of Boston, among whom was Hon. Harrison Gray 
Otis, and other distinguished persons. Mr. Otis' son took 
up his residence here as one of the partners, and resided 
here for a number of years. This additional capital and bus- 
iness brought to the place quite an accession in the popula- 
tion, numbering about one thousand persons. These em- 
ployes and families were mostly composed of imported Eng- 
Hsh people. They were of that class which generally spend 
as freely as they can, and our people being entirely depend- 



126 BEMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

ent upon their knowledge and labor, and knowing nothing 
of the secrets of the manufacture, were compelled to pay 
them just about what they chose to ask. Their monthly 
wages consequently were large, and when pay-day arrived, 
they made things lively at the bar-rooms and livery stables, 
aud tlie work at the manufactory had to take care of itself 
for a tew days. I remember on one occasion that two of 
their principal men, (on whom they depended for a most 
important part of the process in the main department, and 
without whose personal superintendence and assistance, the 
goods could not be properly prepared) turned up missing, 
and could not be found high, low — nor jack — to say nothing 
of game. The consternation was great, aud much com- 
motion pervaded the community, in consequence of the heg- 
ira. It was feared that they had either run away or had 
been hired by other parties. Messengers were dispatched 
in all directions — among them Mr. Richmond — for the pur- 
pose of hunting up the missing truants, who Avere finally 
traced to Boston, T think. They had hired a horse and 
carriage under the inspiring influence of hot flip, which was 
then during the cold weather very popular as a beverage 
with Englishman, and Scotchmen^ and Yankees, (and 
which by the way, as I then heard, wasn't bad to take be- 
fore a sleigh-ride). With their team they started for a ride, 
probably without any definite idea as to the port of destina- 
tion. No doubt things to them were in a nebulous condition, 
and very likely they had no very vivid recollections of either 
the calico works or calico, and their relations to the same, 
and the vision might have been a little be-flipped when they 
left. However, they finally brought up either on the way 
or at the city, I forget which. It was Mr. Richmond, I 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 127 

think, that overtook and brought back the runaways, and 
the calico works once more started up, and things moved 
smoothly again. There was always more or less trouble 
with this class of employes ; they knew the necessities of 
their employers, and took advantage of the same, and gave 
a great deal of anxiety and disappointment to those who had 
charge of the works ; as no dependence could be placed upon 
their whereabouts. Tlie managers of the w^orks in order to 
provide a remedy for this trouble in the future, adopted the 
plan of taking American young men as apprentices, and 
quite a number were very soon engaged, and continued 
there until the business was closed up. For a time, the 
manufacturing went on successfully, and the company made 
some handsome dividends. The superintendents were gen- 
erally foreigners, and owing to their want of prudence and 
economy, and their flush ideas in spending money, and to 
the want also of that practical knowledge and application, 
and prompt and constant personal supervision of the various 
departments always necessary to success, the business prov- 
ed after some years a failure, and a large amount of capital 
w^as sunk. A large portion of those employed removed to 
other places, and Taunton lost the benefit arising from the 
increase of population, and the heavy monthly disburse- 
ments which had been previously paid out to the employees. 
The uorks were built on the riverside of what was called 
Cobb's lane, which led to the old Slitting mill just below. 
The lot occupied had been used before only as a cow-past- 
ure, and was plentifully supplied with rocks and under- 
brush. 

The buildings recently abandoned by the screw company 
are a portion of those which composed the old calico works. 



128 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

Mr. Crocker resided in the old family house until he re- 
moved into his new and splendid mansion, which was built, 
according to the best of my recollection, in the years 1817- 
18. This house then was considered the finest specimen of 
architecture and the best planned dwelling house in the 
town. And to-day it compares favorably with any of the 
modern specimens, with their French roofs and various 
other so called improvements in style and accommodations. 
On the site which it Occupies stood the fine dwelling house 
of Hon. 8eth Padelford. Mr. Padelford was a prominent 
member of the Bristol Bar, and his office was in the im- 
mediate vicinity of his house. He held the office of Judge 
of Probate and had a lucrative practice in his profession. 
His family were numbered among the cultured and aristo- 
cratic classes of the place. The house which he occupied 
was removed to the site in the rear of the yard, parallel 
with the front of the present Court House, where it still 
stands. The yard and garden were both large and ample, 
the garden reaching to the streets borcleriug on the side and 
rear and fronting the Bristol County Savings Bank and the 
houses occupied by Mrs. Hartshorn and others on the street 
intersecting Main and Washington streets. The barn, sheds, 
and outhouses in the yard were large and commodious. Mr. 
Hilliard Earl occupied the Padelford house some time be- 
fore it was removed to its present site. It was in this yard 
that "old Toby" was dug out of the snow in the winter of 
1815, when the news of peace was brought into town by 
the Newport stage, which had in large letters "peace" chalk- 
ed on bpth sides of the covering, which being of black cloth, 
appeared clear and distinctly. As soon as the news became 
known, a great excitement ran through the whole village, 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 129 

and gatherings in the streets were formed in all directions. 
The first notes of public proclamation of the welcome news 
came from the meeting house bell, which Mr. Allen Dan- 
forth proceeded to ring very furiously, and the resounding 
notes of which were more musical and sweeter to the ear 
than a half-dozen of the Trinity Church chimes would have 
been able to make if they had been rung in all the steeples 
here. Preparations were immediately commenced for the 
rcsurrectiou of old Toby* from his icy bed, and soon the 
old gun appeared, covered inside and out with a thick coat- 
ing of ice and snow. Hot water soon rendered his black 
coat clean and clear and ready for service. He was accord- 
ingly mounted and put in position upon the Green, ready to 
speak the words of peace to all within reach of its musical 
voice. Very soon he commenced to talk music and contin- 
ued to speak at intervals during the day. Meantime, in the 
afternoon, the people gathered from all points with their 
sleighs and flags loaded deep with old men, young men, old 
ladies, young ladies, and boys and girls in numbers too 

*This old cannon was a gift from Timothy Gilmore of Raynham, for- 
merly a slave, and many of whose descendants are noAv living. It was 
the only article of ordnance owned l)y the town, and was used on 4th of 
July celebrations and extra occasions of rejoicing for some forty years or 
more, until the brass cannon was presented by the late S. T. Tisdale, a 
native of Taunton and then a resident of the city of New York, to the 
Taunton Light Infantry some twenty-five or thirty yeai'S ago. This can- 
non was subsequently presented by the company to the town, and is 
stored, I think, in the City Hall basement and probably well cared for. 
Where "old Toby," the centennial relic, is I do not know, but if not 
kept in a proper place and condition it is a reflection on the powers that 
be ! Mr. Mayor, j'ou have listened from boyhood to its musical notes 
on many glorious 4th of July ; now will you please place "old Toby" in 
the post of honor, and let us hear his voice once more on the centennial 
celebration next 4th of July. 

17 



130 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

numerous for counting. Tliese all surrounded the Green, 
led by a large sleigh containing the Taunton Band. The 
number was so large that the whole enclosare was filled up, 
the nose of each horse occasionally over-reaching the back 
of the sleigh he was following. The circle thus formed by 
the sleighs swept round and round the Green, amid the 
music of the band, the waiving flags, the cheers of count- 
less voices, and the monotone of old Toby's voice occasion- 
ally coming in on the second part, was a cheering sight to 
see and hear. After going round the Green in this manner 
for some time, the forward sleigh turned the corner of the 
street leading to the Weir, and the party put out strong and 
fast for Capt. Maybury's house in Dighton, where they 
stopped and disembarked, filling the same from top to bot- 
tom with as lively a set of humans as evei- congregated on 
any occasion or in any place. Of course, the inspiration 
incident to the grand advent of peace, the sleigh-ride, and 
the party, was exuberant and lively, and all were bound to 
have a jolly time, minus conventional usages and the sober 
restraints of the ordinary intercourse of social life on com- 
mon occasions. "Peace" was the motto, and fun, frolic and 
hurrah its concomitants. And no doubt they were all ready 
to sing the following air ; 

Tune. — Jolly mortals, fill your glasses. 

See the smoking bowl before us, 

Mark our jovial, joyous ring ; 
Round and round take up the chorus, 

And in raptures let us sing. 



EEMINISGENGES OF TAUNTON. 131 



ARTICLE XVI. 



CELEBRATING PEACE IN 1815. 

We left our jolly sleighing party celebrating the news of 
peace at Captain IMaybury's in Dighton. The Captain gave 
them a hospitable welcome as was his wont to all his visi- 
tors. And on this happy occasion, judging from the exu- 
berant hilarity and merry twinkling of the eyes, it may be 
safe to predict that the Captain did not let them return with- 
out a little warm ginger-tea and muUed-wine to keep them 
from catching cold. On their arrival, they swept around 
the Green again with music and hurrahs in the ascendant 
for a while, and then the party separated. In the evening 
it w^as decided to have some demonstration also in honor of 
the news. Silas Shepard, Esq., was the agent of the Taun- 
ton Cotton Mill, then standing where the tall solitary chim- 
ney of the late paper mill company now stands, on Weir 
street. He permitted the committee on celebration to take 
what pine wood they wanted from the factory yard, and a 
(quantity sufficient to build a pyramid large enough for a 
magnificent bon-fire was soon piled np in the centre of the 
Green. The snow was some two feet deep on a level, and 
wdien the fire was set to the pile, the snow in the immediate 
vicinity began to melt, and then the crowd around the fire 
commenced a lively game of snow-balling amid the firing of 



132 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

crackers, the hurrahs, and rough and tumble exhibitions of 
the gymnasts which covered the Green. Some of the boys 
visited the Weir and obtained an okl tar-barrel which had 
been emptied partly of its contents ; to this they attached a 
rope, and it was drawn through the streets after being set 
fire to by a squad of boys, illuminating various portions of 
the village amid the shrill hurrahs of the lively team attach- 
ed to it. Thus passed the evening succeeding the news of 
the day. The celebration was kept up to a late hour in the 
houses and taverns after the demonstrations in the street had 
ceased. Immediately succeeding this, arrangements were 
made for a grand ball which came oif a few nights after in 
the Academy Hall, the largest at that time in the town. 
Refreshments were furnished from the hotel. The ball was 
a magnificent success, and when it broke up in the small 
hours of the morning, everybody went away happy and re- 
joicing. Thus we celebrated, in old Taunton, the advent of 
peace in 1815. It must seem that there was a little more 
of the true spirit of patriotism, and a little more readiness to 
put the hands into pockets to furnish the means for celebrat- 
ing publicly such extra occasions than obtains at the present 
day. If we keep on as we have for a few years past in this 
direction, our children will soon be ignorant of the meaning 
of the 4th of July and the events of the Rebellion. 

THE OLD COURT HOUSE AND COBb's LANE. 

But to return to our narative, the next house beyond that 
of Mr. Padelford was a two-story dwelling house, with a 
shop-room below. This house stood upon the spot now oc- 
cupied by the Court House. Preston Shepard occupied the 
same ; he was a carriage builder and his shop was in the 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 133 

rear of his house. He removed to Bostou and kept the In- 
dian Queen Hotel in Bromfield street for many years. Later, 
this house here was occupied by other families and the shop 
below was taken by Jimmy Herffern, as he was called. 
Jimmy was a house and sigu painter, and also an Irishman 
belonging to a class at that time scarcely known here. He 
was a very good sign painter and letterer, and was gener- 
ally liked ; his business was pretty good, considering the 
size of the place and the competition which existed at that 
time. There was a cloud, however, resting over Jimmy's 
reputation — he had been prosecuted, tried and convicted for 
breaking into and entering a dwelling house in the night 
time. The punishment of that crime was by the law at that 
time death ; and it was owing to the owner of the house de- 
clining to swear positively that he fastened the door when 
he retired that Jimmy escaped. But he lived here many 
years, and prosecuted his business, making a comfortable 
living, and was considered a very clever and harmless per- 
son. No one seemed disposed to ignore him or to refer to 
his antecedents, and very possibly he might have been ob- 
livious as to the why or wherefore of his locality that night, 
and supposed that he was navigating among the shoals and 
quicksands of his own premises. At all events he sustained 
afterwards a good character here. The punishment by death, 
was considered in those days none too severe for breaking 
into a dwelling house in the night time. Perhaps that pun- 
ishment never ought to be inflicted under any circumstances. 
The probability is, however, that if the law had not been 
repealed there would have been much less burglary, and 
shooting of people in their own houses by burglars than ob- 
tains at the present time. Ought not some law severe enough 



134 RE3IINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

in its penalties to be pas&^ed for the protection of our proper- 
ty and lives ? It would seem that a small modicum of the 
sympathy now expended and manifested in behalf of rob- 
bers, murderers, burglars, incendiaries, bank breakers, and 
those who are guilty of financial irregularities might be 
given to those who are now at the mercy of these unprinci- 
pled cut-throats and scoundrels. Let a law be passed which 
cannot be set aside by executive clemency, except for error 
in conviction, and severe enough at least in its penalties to 
shut up for life rapidly increasing scoundrels, and possibly 
this class of diamond ring gentry, and fast-horse, sporting 
cut-throats, might diminish slightly. 

The house mentioned previously was torn down or remov- 
ed when the county bought the laid and erected what was 
called the County House. It was built of brick, two stories 
high, with four offices for county use. In three of these 
there were brick alcoves, meant to be fire proof, having for 
that purpose wooden doors and a common window at the 
end of each, without any blinds outside or inside ; the floors 
of these were also brick. Perhaps the contractor thought 
that the fire could not burn either the wooden doors or the 
windows. Nevertheless, the Court of Sessions, Avhich had 
charge of the county expenditures and buildings and consist- 
ed of three judges, wise men, and good judges of combus- 
tion as well as of law, accepted the building at the hands of 
the contractor. Or, perhaps it was built after their own 
plan, and considered safe enough for the records and papers 
of the county. The three offices with alcoves were occu- 
pied by the Register of Probate, the Register of Deeds, and 
the Clerk of the Courts. The other office was occupied by 
Hon. Francis Baylies. The County House served the 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 135 

wants of the county for some years imtil the supreme judges 
ordered a new court house to be built, the old one having 
been erected about the time of the Revolution had become 
too small and inconvenient for the business of the court. 
The old court house stood nearer the street than the present 
one, fronting about south. ' It was a tolerably large build- 
ing, and the floor of the court room was raised some ten 
feet above the basement, in which were the jury rooms. 
The two front rooms were occupied for many years as 
counting rooms of Crocker & Richmond, in one of which 
Mr. Crocker had his office as County Treasurer. This was 
the same old Court House so bravely defended by Gen. 
Cobb when Shay's insurgents marched into town to stop the 
sittings of the court, and marched out again pretty sudden- 
ly, some of the soldiers having been taken very sick and 
being in a very bad sanitary condition. The two-story 
house of Judge Padelford, after it was moved back where 
it now stands, was occupied for a time as a tavern by Mr. 
John Sturtevant. Subsequently it was occupied by D. G. 
W . Cobb, P^sq., who was the son of Gen. Cobb, and at that 
time Register of Probate, having his office in the County 
House. The old court house was moved into Cobb's lane — 
now Court street — which had become, since the location of 
the calico works in that neighborhood, quite a stirring 
locality. 

The Nathaniel Fales house had also been moved from 
Main street to Cobb's -Lane, and stood nearly opposite to 
where the old court house now stands. The new stone jail 
liad been built at the bottom of the lane at the junction with 
the old back street. There were no other buildings then in 
their neighborhood, excepting one two-story dwelling house 



136 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

near the old slitting mill, mentioned in a previous article. 
There was also near the slitting mill, a little carding mill, 
fed by the water of the same dam, which was run by Col. 
Edward Grossman. He carded all the farmers' wool and 
formed it into a roll for spinnings and his mill was kept 
busily running. The house-wives and their daughters in 
those days, v^^hen the farmers raised their own sheep and 
flax, all had their own spinning wheels and spun their own 
wool and flax, and their home-made flannels — linen cloths 
for sheets — and table-cloths on looms of their own ; and knit 
their own stockings, made up their red and blue flannels in- 
to good warm winter dresses and petticoats, {just think of 
it.) And it would not be a bad plan if the young ladies of 
these Centennial times should adopt the home-made flannels 
(of their grandmothers' kind) for their petticoats — or per- 
haps I should say undergarments — that is, provided it is 
fashionable to wear such an article of comfort, and also for 
the protection of health — otherwise, of course, by no other 
means should it he done. On the old back street leading 
north, now Washington street, there was a two-story house, 
owned and occupied by Abiathar Leonard, who was a black- 
smith, and carried on the business making wrought iron 
nails. This house is still standing there. The next was a 
one-story house, occupied by Mr. Allen Burt, who was Mr. 
Crocker's head farmer, and had charge of all the business 
in that department. He always had the finest yoke of oxen, 
and the best teams in the place, and took great pride in 
showing them off as he passed through the village. Return- 
ing to Cobb's lane, there were no buildings on the river ex- 
cepting the jail, and the calico works, and a blacksmith 
shop occupied by Mr. Lewis Dean, at the foot of the hill. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 137 

The jail was built a few years in advance of the calico works. 
After the death of Mr. Leonard, the house was purchased 
by Capt. Job Hall, a retired sea captain, who, having mar- 
ried the widow of Mr. Leonard took up his residence here. 
It was a current report that the captain when he moved in- 
to town brought with him "Spanish milled dollars" as 
they were called, no less than $20,000. This, at that time, 
was considered an independent fortune, but in these later 
days, with shoddy in the ascendent, this sum has been 
counted as a mere bagatelle, scarcely an outfit for the dia- 
monds and jewelry necessary for a young lady's daily exhib- 
ition in the streets, much less for the magnificent display of 
that class of costly blessings at the theatres, balls, parties, 
and receptions. But alas ! the days of shoddy are fast pass- 
ing away. Most of the rich men have failed, but happily 
their wives at the same time suddenly become millionaires ; 
while all the good people, like Mr. Blaine, exclaim, oh my ! 
oh my ! and stand aghast. On reaching the Green the first 
house on the right hand stood at the head of the hill, on the 
west side of the street. It was a large two-story house, or- 
iginally occupied by Gen. Cobb. 

This house was subsequently occupied by Bradford Leon- 
ard, Esq., who was a partner of Hon. Samuel Crocker, in 
the earlier part of his business life. They had their store 
at Hopewell, and were largely in the iron business. In con- 
nection with the house was a two-story building, a part of 
the lower story fitted for a wood-house, store-room and car- 
riage-house, and the other part was occupied by Mr. Charles 
Phillips, and Jotham Colburu. Mr. Phillips was a painter 
and glazier and paper-hanger ; Mr. Colburn was a cabinet 
maker and a great musician, — he was a prominent member 

18 



138 BEMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

of the old Taunton Band, — only two members of which, I 
believe, now are living. One of them is Lemuel M. Leon- 
ard, Esq., who drives that old "o7?e horse buggy-shay" so 
often seen upon the street. The other is Joseph W. Dean, 
Esq., a farmer, now occupying the old homestead in Dean 
street. Lemuel played the French horn and sometimes, per- 
haps, may have taken an '•'•American horn," as a compli- 
ment to the baud, when serenading friends in the summer 
evenings. This process, doubtless produced an internal 
music softening and sweetening the notes of the other horn. 
Mr. Colburn paid quite as much attention to his musical 
notes as he did to the paper notes not set to music. But 
Jotham was a clever fellow, notwithstanding, and was al- 
ways full of the harmony of sweet notes. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 139 



ARTICLE XVII 



EARLY MEMBERS OF THE BAR. 

The next building beyond the house of Capt. Hall was a 
small one-story structure containing two offices. One of 
these offices was occupied at that time by Francis Baylies, 
Esq., who came to Taimton from Dighton in 1810. The 
other room was sometimes occupied as an office and some- 
times as a school-room. Later it was occupied by Jacob 
Chapiu, Esq., who w^as the first editor of the Repuhlican — 
then bearing the name of The Old Colony Reporter, We 
nuiy as well perhaps state the names of the members of the 
Bar in the earlier settlement of the town. They were emi- 
nent men aud ably represented their profession. Hon Sam- 
uel White* was a barrister at law, a native of Braintree 
and a graduate of Harvard University. He located in 
Taunton near the time when the courts were first held here, 
which was in 1745. He presided over the House of Repre- 
sentatives in the days of the Stamp Act. As speaker of the 
House he signed the circular which called together the first 
Congress, which assembled in October, 1765, at New York. 
The house which he built and occupied was on the old road 

*For the dates in connection with the residence of the members of the 
Bar at the time of which we write, we are indebted to Rev. Mr. Emery's 
"Ministry of Taunton." 



140 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

to the Weir, and in later years kiiovvQ as the Bowen house. 
This house was removed a few years since and a new house 
was built by Mrs. Harriet Morton, who inherited the prop- 
erty. There are still standing in front of the house and ou 
the opposite side of the street some magnificent old oak 
trees which were called very ancient (as I have heard from 
the decendants of the friends of the White family) nearly 
one hundred years ago. Their age is probably more than 
two hundred years, and they appear stahvart, healthy and 
vigorous, notwithstanding their battles with storms and 
tempests of two centuries. Empires have arisen and gone 
down — wars have desolated the earth — new governments 
have been inaugurated and swept into oblivion — great 
changes have passed over us. Science and the arts have 
made wonderful progress since those old trees lifted their 
early branches and put forth their first green buds and leaves 
to the sun-light and the air of earth. Hallowed be their 
memory, and may no vandal or desecrating spirit ever lift a 
hand for their destruction. Let us preserve a few land- 
njarks, which, like the "Old Friar's" brazen image, shall 
speak before they fall and are broken to pieces, those omin- 
ous words, Time is^ Time luas, and Time has been! that we 
may thereby gather wisdom from the study of the past as 
well as from the daily increasing wonders and experiences 
of the present. 

Hon. Robert Treat Paine was not a native of Taunton, 
but removed here. He was an eminent member of the 
Bar in its early days. He occupied the house which subse- 
quently became the residence of Judge Fales. He was men- 
tioned in a previous article as among the eminent men of 
Taunton. He graduated at Harvard University in 1749. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 141 

He commenced the practice of law here and soou became a 
prominent and successful advocate. He received the ap- 
pointment of Attorney General, and subsequently that of 
Judge of the Supreme Court. He was a delegate to the 
Congress which published the Declaration of American In- 
dependence, the centennial celebration of which nearly the 
whole world will unite in on the 4th of July next. He was 
the father of the famous poet, Robert Treat Paine, Jr. 
Another prominent member of the Bar then was Hon. Dan- 
iel Leonard, a native of Norton. He graduated at Harvard 
University in 1760. He was eminent in his profession. He 
was a strong politician and a sturdy Republican for a time, 
but afterwards it was said that under the manipulation of 
Gov. Hutchinson he became as decided a loyalist. He be- 
came so unpopular here that he was compelled to leave the 
place, and he took up his residence in Boston. The house 
that he occupied here afterwards became the residence of 
Judge Padelford, and it still bears the marks I believe of 
stray bullets from the mad patriots, while in possession of 
Mr. Leonard. He left Boston for Halifax in 1776, and 
thence for England. On his arrival there in consequence of 
his loyalty, he was given the appointment of Chief Justice 
of Bermuda. He retained his official position there for sev- 
eral years and then returned to England where he died in 
182'J. 

Hon. Seth Padelford was another prominent member cf 
the Bar at this time. He graduated at Yale College in 1770. 
Judge Fales was also a member of the Bar. James Sproat, 
Esq., was also a conspicuous member, celebrated for his 
jokes, humor, wit and repartee. The following is a speci- 
men of his love of fun : David L. Barnes, Esq., was ad- 



142 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

dressing, at oue time, a jury in an important ease when he 
quoted, by way of illustration of his argument and for the 
purpose of making a strong impression upon the jury, the 
address of satan to the Lord, "Skin for skin, yea, all that a 
man hath will he give for his life," adding, in consequence 
of not being as fresh and familiar with Bible reading, per- 
haps, as with Coke upon Littleton, ''saith our Savior." 
Mr. Sproat was up in an instant and, solemnly addressing 
the court, said, ''May it please your Flonor — He may be 
brother Barnes' savior, but he is none of mine." 

Hon. David L. Barnes was a native of Scituate, Mass., 
and practiced his profession here for some time. He sub- 
sequently removed to Rhode Island, and was appointed Dis- 
trict Judge of the U. S. Court, under the administration of 
Jeiferson. Nicholas Tillinghast, Esq., was also a distin- 
"uished member of the Bar. Hon. John M. Williams, a 
native of Taunton and a graduate of Brown University, 
commenced the practice of law in New Bedford. He after- 
wards removed to Taunton, and continued his practice until 
he received the appointment of Judge of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas, and of which he became Chief Justice. 

Hon. Marcus Morton w^as a native of Freetown and a 
graduate of Brown University in 1804. He commenced 
practice in Taunton in 1807, and soon became prominent as 
both lawyer and politician. He addressed his juries in such 
every day, common sense, unadorned rhetoric as they both 
liked and understood, and consequently he was generally 
successful and popular as an advocate. He represented this 
district in Congress four years ; was one of the judges of 
the Supreme Court of the State fifteen years ; and was elect- 
ed three times asGovernorof the State — once in consequence 



RE^IINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 14;5 

of tlie death of Gov. Eustis, while he, Morton, was Lieut. 
Governor. He was also appointed collector of the port of 
Boston, under the administration of President Polk. 

Hon. Francis Baylies Avas another distinguished member 
of the Bar.. He removed from Dighton and commenced the 
practice of the law here in 1810. As stated in a previous 
article, he held the office of Register of Probate. He was a 
member of Congress six years, and received the appoint- 
ment of Minister to the Argentine Republic, under Presi- 
dent Jackson. Mr. Baylies was also distinguished as a his- 
torian. He was the author of the "Memoir of Plymouth 
Colony in four parts and two volumes," besides many other 
historical and biographical articles furnished for the leading 
publications of the day. The following named gentlemen 
(some of whom have been mentioned in a previous article) 
were, in later years, also members of the Bar in Taunton, 
viz., Anselm Bassett, Pliny Merrick, H. G. O. Colby, 
George T. Davis, and Theophilus Parsons. Judge Wilde 
was born in Taunton and settled in the then district of 
Maine. He was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of 
this State by Gov. Strong, and was considered as among the 
first in his judicial capacity. 

The following extract from the Old Colony Reporter in 
the first year of its publication — 1821 — gives an enigmatical 
list of the lawyers residing here at that time. 

1st — An honorary crown, three-fifths of a sovereign and the 
initial of a plant. 

2d — One-half of a human being, the initial of the belle of 
Babylon, and one-third of a priest of Bacchus. 

3d — Two-fifths of the God of revelry, the initial of the 
horse of Achilles, and one-sixth of a love-letter. 



144 BEMINISCENGES OF TAUNTON. 

4th — One-half of a philosopher of Pergamus, and three- 
eighths of a turret. 

oth — One-quarter of an island in the Archipelago, half of 
a King of Alba, and two-fifths of a mountain in Africa. 

6th — Three-eighths of a figure generated by the trans- 
verse section of a cone, and half of a celebrated deity of the 
Egyptians. 

7th — The initial of the goddess of health at Rome, one- 
third of a Roman officer, and two-fifths of an ancient town 
of the Volsci. 

8th — Half of a tree (as the poet describes it) worn by the 
forlorn lovers, two-fifths of a satire, one-half of the end of a 
creed, and the initial of a celebrated city of Peloperessus. 

9th — Three-sevenths of a Spaniard who betrayed Syra- 
cuse to the Roman general, and a pile of hay sheltered from 
the rain. 

The following is a list of the names of the gentlemen 
composing the enigma: Marcus Morton, Pliny Merrick, 
John M. Williams, James Sproat, W. A. F. vSproat, James 
Ellis, Jacob Chapin, Francis Baylies, D. G. W. Cobb. 
The present members of the Bar will please come to the 
front and solve the enio^ma. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 145 



ARTICLE XVIII 



THE EARLY MINISTERS. 

Of course no reminiscences of Taunton, or any other city, 
would be considered of much value without a full statement 
of the early condition of the church and its ministers. We 
should have commenced our reminiscences perhaps, by first 
paying cyiir attention to this important department in connec- 
tion with the same. But at our commencement we purposed 
simply to give the topography of the place in former days, 
and the names and residences, together with a brief state- 
ment of the prominent citizens, and some light sketches of 
their position and influence at that time in Taunton. And 
now having given a full statement touching the profession of 
the law and its members, we purpose also to give an ab- 
stract of the history, in brief, of the first settlement of the 
town, and an account of its first ministers. We may ac- 
knowledge right here that for this account we are also in- 
debted to Rev. S. H. Emery's "Ministry of Taunton." The 
treaty with Massasoit, entered into the March following the 
landing at riymouth, sufficiently well indicates the peaceful 
policy of the pilgrim. It was the design of Winslow and 
Hopkins, in their visit to Mount Hope, so soon after tlie 

19 



146 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

ratification of that treaty, to assure the greatest commander 
amongst the savages of the good will of the English. It was 
in this journey of peace and amity in the month of June, 
1G21, under the direction of Squanto, or Tisquantum, a 
friendly Indian, who could speak English, that the territory 
of the Indian Cohannet, now called Taunton, was first 
traversed by the feet of Englishmen. The route of Winslow 
and Hopkins, from Plymouth to Mount Hope, lay directly 
through the town. Again, two years after, Winslow re- 
peated the journey, having for his companion one John 
Hampden, then on a visit to the Colony — desiring much to 
see the country. What other excursions were made by 
whites in the direction of Taunton or who besides savage 
tribes traversed its forests till 1637, we know not. For 
twelve years after the commencement of Plymouth that'town 
constituted the whole Colony. The same year •(1637,) 
whilst many of the first settlers of Newton and others from 
various places were removing to Hartford and New Haven, 
Dorchester likewise had some choice spirits whose eye was 
turned towards Cohannet. 

What renders this latter movement of the choice spirits 
of Dorchester the more remarkable is the fact that a woman 
led the way to Cohannet — dux fcemina facti. "A gentle 
woman, an ancient maid, one Miss Poole," so called by 
Winthrop. He says "She went late thither and endured 
much hardship and lost much cattle." That it was perilous 
and required no common nerve to undertake Avill appear if 
you consider that the nearest settlement on the east was 
Plymouth, at a distance of twenty-six miles, and in the in- 
tervening forests the Nemasket and Tetiquet tribes claimed 
dominion ; that on the west was nothing but the feeble set- 



RE3IINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 147 

tlement of Roger Williams at Providence, whilst the numer- 
ous, powerful and barbarous Narragansetts roamed free, 
ready any moment to devour ; that on the north, between 
Dorchester and Cohannet, were yet other tribes, as the Pun- 
kapogues and Neponsets, which completely shut them in 
from other colonists and left them at the mercy of merciless 
men, accustomed to deeds of blood. 

Mr. Baylies, in his "Memoir," says, "It was the ardent 
love of religion, an enthusiastic desire of planting another 
church in the American wilderness, which impelled this 
pious Puritan lady to encounter all the dangers and all the 
hardships of forming a settlement in the midst of the In- 
dians." It must be recollected that Plymouth as well as 
Massachusetts, was settled by churches as such, and in such 
communities the minister or pastor is of course the chief 
personage. 

Elizabeth Poole made a satisfactory purchase of the place 
called the "Tetiquet purchase." A confirmatory deed, 
bearing date July 20, 1686, states that Mrs. Elizabeth Poole 
(Mr. Winthrop calls her Miss Poole), formerly of Taunton, 
did for and in behalf of said town purchase the lands of 
Tetiquet in the year 1637, and that the right owners of the 
said lands did make sale thereof to the said Mrs. Elizabeth 
Poole as aforesaid, and received pay of her for it. So that 
Mr. Baylies is right in saying that "she purchased her lands 
by giving a fair equivalent before occupation." 

The first or "Titiquet purchase" included the present 
towns of Taunton, Raynham and Berkley. In 1668 there 
was an additional purchase, called the North purchase, in- 
cluding the present towns of Norton, Mansfield and Easton. 
In 1672 a third purchase, called the South purchase, which 



148 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON 

is now the town of Dighton. In 1680 Assonet Neck was 
annexed to the town.* 

In the absence of Church records there is room for con- 
jecture only as to the number and the names of the Church, 
which in 1G37 Elizabeth Poole planted in this then wilder- 
ness place, Master Hooke, pastor, Master Street, teacher. 
We may rest assured that Elizabeth Poole and Richard 
Williams were members, for if the first was the founder, 
the last "may be considered the father of the town. Born 
in 1599, he lived till 1692, during nearly an entire century. 
We may arrive at the names of yet others who probably 
constituted this Church in the wilderness, for if none could 
be admitted to the freedom of the body politic but such as 
were church membei-s, the list of freemen from Taunton will 
be in fact a list of its male church members. This list is 
found to contain the names of twenty-four members, who 
doubtless belonged to the original church of Taunton, and 
if there was as many women it was certainly a goodly com- 
pany to covenant together' on the banks of the Tetiquet." 

Rev. William Hooke was the first minister of Taunton. 
Of Mr. Hooke we know less than we could wish. That he 
was a native of Southampton, England, the son of a gentle- 
man, born in 1601, admitted to the degree of Bachelor of 
Arts in Trinity College, Oxford, in 1620, of Master of 
Arts in 1623, appears from the record in Wood's Fasti, ex- 
amined and transcribed by Hon. James Savage in 1842. 

In what year Hooke reached New England we do not 

*In the above account of the early settlement of Taunton the writer 
followed the statements of Mr. Baylies in his memoir of the Colony of 
New Plymouth. Subsequent examination of authorities has thrown 
doubt upon the accuracy of some of the important statements of Mr. 
Baylies, particularly those relating to Elizabeth Poole. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 149 

know, but we first hear of him in the "Tetiquet [uirchase" 
the sliepherd of the flock whicli chose to rest in tlieir weari- 
ness and wanderings upon the banks of the Nistequahan- 
nock and the Wesquabeuanset, (this last name is now 
known as Squawbetty). Cotton Mather say^s of him, 
''He was a learned, holy and humble man." Dr. Trum- 
bull, the historian of Connecticut, also makes mention of 
him as a man of great learning and piety, and possessing ex- 
cellent pulpit talents. 

Mr. Emery vSpeaks of Mr. Nicholas Street, the second 
minister of Taunton, as follows : 

''Mr. Nicholas Street having been set apart to the work of 
the ministry in Taunton, on the same day with the installa- 
tion of Mr. Hooke, and associated with him as teacher, on 
the removal of Mr. Hooke to New Haven, succeeded him 
both as pastor and teacher. Although contemporaneous 
with the first, as his successor also, he may be properly re- 
garded as the second minister of the town. We know less, 
unfortunately, of the ministerial or private life of the second, 
than of the first Taunton minister. The only memorial of 
him in town is the little bridge extending over Mill River 
in Spring street, which to this day bears the name of Street's 
Bridge. That he was not scantily endowed, however, with 
mind or ministerial qualifications, is to be inferred from the 
fact, he was called to succeed Mr. Hooke in New Haven, 
which for a second time sought its supply of an .able minis- 
try in the Plymouth Colony, and from the additional fact 
that he was regarded competent, not only to be associated 
with the distinguished Davenport, but on the removal of 
Davenport to Boston, as Wilson's successor, to take the en- 
tire charge of the church which had been for many years 



150 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

favored witli the joint ministratious of two of the most em- 
inent men in New England. The date of Mr. Street's set- 
tlement in New Haven, as it appears in the church records, 
is the 26th of the 9th, 1659. Mr. Street married for his 
first wife a sister of Elizabeth Poole, the foundress of Taun- 
ton. His second wife was the relict of Gov. Newman. The 
inventory of his estate, at the time of his death, which oc- 
curred 22d of April, 1674, was £463 16s. His books were 
valued at £46. He had by him in hard money £71 
12s 6d." It will be perceived by this account that the min- 
isters in those days were both thirfty and economical and 
not afraid of common labor in the woods or the fields. They 
didn't have to go on European tours once in two or three 
years to cure the bronchitis and chronic dyspepsia, generally 
superinduced by high-living, nor for general recuperation of 
the system. But they worked out manfully, not only the 
salvation of their souls, but their bodies as well. So for 
as we know or history relates they did not as a general 
thing live in palaces. Nor did they sport fifteen hundred- 
dollar horses, nor make a spread at trotting parks, i. e. they 
did not believe in going to heaven on race horses at the rate 
of 2.40 per mile — nor advertising grand concerts in their 
churches to insure full houses. And notwithstanding their 
old fogy notions, and their traveling up the back-stairs to 
reach heaven, they probably found that heaven of rest soon- 
er than those who ride fast horses will be able to do — and 
we doubt not left more money for the benefit of their families 
than some of the ten thousand dollar salaried reverends of 
the present times will when they start upon the last journey 
or race course, as the case may be. The motto sub cruce 
"nalus it is feared is becoming obsolete among the guild. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 151 

Rev. George Shove, the third minister of Taunton. Of 
the niiuisterial life of Mr. Shove we can say but little, for 
it is next to nothing which has been transmitted. Is'ot the 
smallest fragment of a MSS., religious or secuhir remains. 
In the absence of all documentary evidence and traditional 
accounts, it would be unbecoming in us to atlirm anything 
positive concerning the success or failure of Mr. Shove in 
his high and holy calling. His fame, however, as a land- 
holder and dealer in real estate has not failed to reach us. 
He is represented as having been largely concerned in secu- 
lar transactions of the town and possessed of considerable 
wealth. If it be true, what some have affirmed, that the 
ministers of Plymouth Colony about this time were suffer- 
ing for want of adequate support, it is easy to account for 
this temporary diversion of the ministry of Taunton from 
their appropriate work — "their success in husbandry and 
consequent improvement in their worldly circumstances. A 
minister who is obliged to turn aside from the duties of his 
profession to provide for the means of support for himself 
and family will be most likely to accumulate and leave be- 
hind him a large property. Mr. Sho\ e was one of the pro- 
prietors in the Taunton North purchase, embracing the 
present toAvns of Norton, Easton and Mansiield. He was 
also one of the six proprietors of Assonet Neck, when that 
purchase was made in 1080. 

Mr. Shove appears to have been a native cf Dorchester, 
Avas ordained in Taunton Nov. 17, 1GG5, where he lived and 
labored till the day of his death, April 21, 1G87. He was 
thrice married. His first wife was Hopestill, daughter of 
Rev. Samuel Newman, the distinguished minister of Reho- 
both, whom he married July 12, 1GG4. He was married 



152 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

the second time to Mrs. Hannah Walley Feb. 16, 1675. He 
was married the third time to Mrs. Sarah, Avidow of Mr. 
Thomas Farwell, one of the original settlers of the town, 
December 8, 1686. 

The paternal grandfjither of the fourth minister of Taun- 
ton, according to Cotton Mather, was Nicholas Danforth, 
who lived in Framingham, in the county of Suffolk, Eng- 
land, and was a gentleman of such estate and repute in the 
world, that it cost him a considerable sum to escape the 
knighthood which King Charles I. imposed on all of so 
much per annum, and of such figure and esteem in the church 
that he procured the famous lecture at Framingham, where 

lie had a line manor. His wife, whose name was 

Symmes, died in 1629, and he came to New England in 
1634, but died at Cambridge in 1637. He left three sons, 
and Samuel, the youngest, was born in England in Septem- 
ber, 1626, being eight years old when his father came to 
New England. He graduated at Harvard College in 1643, 
a member of the second class which left that institution, of 
which he was** afterwards a Tutor and Fellow. He was or- 
dained at Roxbury as colleague with the celebrated John 
Elliot, September 24, 1650. He was a distinguished math- 
ematical scholar, the author of a series of almanacks, and an 
astronomical description of the comet which appeared in 
1664. His sermons, according to Mather, were elaborate 
and substantial. Though a very judicious preacher, yet he 
was therewithal so affectionate that he rarely if ever ended 
a sermon without weeping. He published several discourses, 
one of which was entitled "the cry of Sodom enquired into, 
or a testimony against the sin of uncleanness ;" another was 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 153 

an election sermon preached in 1670, being called ''a recog- 
nition of New England's errand in the wilderness." 

He died Nov. 19, 1674, aged 48. His colleague, Elliot, 
remarking on his death, says, "He made the most glorious 
end that I ever saw." Mr. Weld wrote a poem on his death. 
He left twelve children, one of whom, John, was the minis- 
ter of Dorchester, who died in 1730. Another was Sam- 
uel, the fourth minister of Taunton. The Taunton minister 
was not only a clerical descent on his father's, but also on 
his mother's side. His mother was the daughter of Rev. 
John Wilson, pastor ot the first church in Boston, and 
grand-daughter of Dr. William Wilson, Prebendary of 
Rochester, England, who was also grand-nephew to Dr. 
P^dmund Grindal, archbishop of Canterbury. Mr. Danforth 
was called to the work .of the ministry in Taunton with a 
large share of ministerial influence to proceed and prepare 
the way for him. The popularity of Mr. Danforth in the 
beginning of his ministry continued without abatement to 
its close. 

Rev. Thomas Clapp, settled as the fifth pastor of the first 
church in Taunton, 1729, was a son of John Clapp, born 
1677, who was a son of Samuel, born probably about 1645, 
(or between 1649 and 1656,) who Avas the son of Thomas, 
born in Dorchester, England, 1627. The first Thomas 
Clapp came to New England with the early settlers of Dor- 
chester, Mass. (1630.) From Samuel descended the dis- 
tinguished family of Clapps in this vicinity. He succeeded 
to his father's residence and married Hannah Gill of Hing- 
ham, 1666. His children were Samuel, Dea. Stephen, Han- 
nah, Bethia, Lieut. John, Abigail, David, Deborah and 
Jane. The most distinguished son of Dea. Stephen was 

20 



154 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

Thomas, born 1703. This Thomas graduated at Harvard 
College ill 1722, was ordained at Wiudam, Connecticut, 
1726 ; chosen president of Yale College in 1740, in which 
office he continued till 1764. Lieut. John, brother of Dea. 
Stephen, married Hannah Gill (his cousin) in 1702. He 
had two sons, Thomas, born November 11, 1705, and John 
who was killed instantly, October 14, 1722, aged sixteen 
years. 

Rev. Thomas Clapp, born November 14, 1705, graduated 
at Harvard College in 1725, and settled in Taunton in 1729. 
He was married to Mary Leonard, daughter of Judge 
Geo. Leonard of Norton. He had three children, viz : John, 
Thomas and Mary. He Avas dismissed and returned to the 
paternal estate in Scituate the same year, 1738. It was said 
that he left his parish on account of s.ome trouble in collect- 
ing his salary. His people said they would never settle 
another rich man. 

Rev. Josiah Crocker was the successor of Hooke, Street, 
Shove, Danforth, Clapp, and thus the sixth pastor and 
preacher of this ancient town. Mr. Crocker, the sixth min- 
ister of Taunton, was the only son of Josiah and Desiah 
Crocker of Yarmouth. His grand-mother was daughter of 
Gov. Hinckley and sister-in-law of Deputy Governor Wil- 
liam Bradford, through him related to Prince and the May- 
hews. His mother was daughter of Hon. John Thacher, 
grand-daughter of Hon. John Howland, and great-grand- 
daughter of Hon. John Carver, the first Governor of Ply- 
mouth Colony. Born in 1719, he graduated at Harvard Col- 
lege in 1738, when nineteen years of age. He began preach- 
ing on probation at Taunton, August 16, 1741, and about 
nine months after was ordained, viz: May 19, 1742. He 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 155 

was dismissed from his pastoral charge November 1, 1765, 
but continued to reside in Taunton till his death which oc- 
curred, according to the inscription on his stone, August 28, 
1774. He was therefore minister of the town more than 
twenty-three years. He entered upon the work of a pastor 
at an early age and was distinguished for his ardor, pathos, 
persuasive powers and warm-hearted devotion to his calling. 
It was during the memorable period of New England's his- 
tory, which witnessed the ''Great Awakening," that Mr. 
Crocker lived and labored in Taunton. He was called upon 
to preach often in neighboring towns. His services were 
highly prized. Persons came from a great distance to hear 
him preach. Mr. Crocker, like all other ardent, zealous 
men, had many friends and not a few enemies. These last 
succeeded in cutting short the period of his ministry. Mr. 
Crocker lived in what to this day is called ''the parsonage," 
southeast of the village, on Barnum street, and in the rear 
of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. He was twice married. His 
first wife was Rebecca, daughter of Ebenezer Allen, who 
was born at Tisbury, Dukes county, March 1, 1672, and 
married Rebecca^ daughter of Rev. Mr. Russell Hadley, 
April 4, 1G08. Mr. Crocker's second wife Avas Mrs. Han- 
nah Cobb, daughter of Col. Thomas and sister of Hon. 
David Cobb, sister also of the wife of Hon. Robert Treat 
Paine. Josiah, the eldest of Rev. Mr. Crocker's children 
settled in Taunton. Born Oct. 30, 1742. Josiah married 
Abigail, daughter of Hon. Zephanier Leonard. Her hus- 
band served in the army, in time of the revolution, com- 
manding a company stationed at Newport. He was also 
Deputy Sheriff. His house was on the lot adjoining the 
City Hotel. The children of Josiah and Abigail were as 



156 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

follows: Abigail, who married Johu West, Esq., Samuel, 
who married (1, in 1794) Sallj, daughter of Apollos Leon- 
ard, Esq., a graduate of Yale College in 1765, a descendant 
of Hon. Thomas Leonard, and both Town and County 
Treasurer for a term of years; (2, in 1811) Elizabeth, 
daughter of Dr. Wm. Baylies of Dighton.* 

After the dismission of Mr. Crocker in 1765, several 
ministers occupied the pulpit, two of w^hom received a call 
to settle, which they declined, viz : Mr. Camp and Mr. 
Lothrop, the latter afterwards locating In Boston. The peo- 
ple at length united in Rev. Caleb Barnum, who, accepting 
the call extended to him, became the seventh minister of the 
town. The early records of that town were destroyed in 
the Revolutionary war. The British advanced from Nor- 
walk to Daubury, and burnt every public building, thus 
laying waste the reserved stores for the American army, and 
leaving not a vestige of the town records behind them. Nor 
can the memories of the fathers, nor family records, so far 
as 1 have been able to learn, supply this deficiency in 
the case of the Barnum family. The truth appears to be 
that the seventh minister of Taunton was either a grand-sou 
or a great-graud-son of one of the original settlers first of 
Norwalk, and next of Duxbury, Connecticut. He was edu- 
cated at Princeton College, New Jersey, where he was grad- 
uated in 1757. Mr. Barnum was installed February 2, 
1769. When Mr. Barnum entered upon his ministerial 
work in Taunton he was little aware probably of its short 
continuance, of its summary conclusion in the midst of less 
peaceful scenes than await one in the quiet retreat of a small 

*This account was given in a previous article in relation to the 



Hon. Samuel Crocker. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 157 

country parish. Wliea the tidings of the battle of Lexing- 
ton reached Taunton, we are informed that the preacher of 
the town took occasion to speak of it from the pulpit, and to 
rouse the patriotism and energy of his fellow-citizens to do 
tlieir appropriate work. Nor did his own patriotism confine 
itself to worc/s. His sympathies were with those who had 
been called from the quietude and security of their own fire- 
sides to the perils and exposure of the camp and battle- 
field. 

On the 10th of February, 1776, he entered the army in 
the capacity of chaplain, and was attached to the 24th regi- 
ment, commanded by Col. John Greaton, then stationed in 
the vicinity of Boston. When Boston was evacuated, Bar- 
num accompanied his regiment to New York, thence to 
Montreal. In the disastrous retreat from that province he 
endured great hardships. On the arrival of the army at 
Ticouderoga, he was attacked by a bilious disorder, which 
so impaired his health and incapacitated him for his station, 
that be obtained a discharge on the 24th of July and com- 
menced his homeward journey, which, however, was never 
completed. On the 2d of August he reached Pittsfield, in 
this State, and there his progress was arrested by an increase 
of the disease, which at length terminated his life the 23d 
day of August, 1776, in the fortieth year of his age. 

The successor of Mr. Barnum, in the ministry of Taun- 
ton, was Mr. Elias Jones. He was a young man of pre- 
possessing manners and address, and fine talents for the 
pulpit. He was considered by some of the aged men of the 
time one of the most able men they ever heard preach. Mr. 
Jones came to Taunton from Halifax, Nova Scotia, where 
he had preached previously. He was ordained over the 



158 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON.. 

Church of Christ in Taunton October 22, 1777. His min- 
istry was short. The only document that sheds light on the 
time of his leaving Taunton is the report of a committee ap- 
pointed by the town to supply the pulpit after his dismis- 
sion, which document renders it probable that it occurred 
in 1778, the year following his settlement. It was stated 
{\\i\t "He fell into error," and was constrained to ask a dis- 
mission after a very short residence. His farewell sermon 
is said to have been written in a style of touching eloquence. 
This speaks volumes in praise of a sound, discriminating, 
truth-loving church. (Modern churches in search of elo- 
quent parsons would do well to make a note of this, and 
pay a little more attention to the cause of religion, and a 
little less fanatical worship of the sensational declamation of 
the times.) 

For nearly two years after the removal of Mr. Jones, 
there was a vacancy in the pastoral office. Rev. Ephraim 
Judson was installed in 1780. Mr. Judson was the ninth 
minister of the town. He Avas a native of Woodstock, Con- 
necticut. He commenced his labors in Taunton some time 
during the year 1780. These labors for the space of ten 
years, the period of his settlement, were of a very decided, 
positive character. His people were never at a loss to know 
what he believed. He was the very man to make warm 
friends, and was just as sure to have implacable enemies. 
He was stern, severe, and very precise in all his proceedings. 
Mr. Judson was dismissed from his pastoral charge in 
Taunton by an Ecclesiastical Council, convened December 
28, 1790. 

Four members of the original Congregational church of 
Taunton, with four other new members, united with the first 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 159 



parish in Taunton in calling Mr. Jolin Foster to settle with 
them in the work of the gospel ministry. Mr. Foster was 
accordingly installed over said church and society the 1 6th 
of May, 1792. The rema'inder of our notice of this remark- 
able man is copied from an historical sketch by Hon. Fran- 
cis Baylies published in 1833. 

"Perhaps none of our ministers have been more admired ; 
and yet he owed all his popularity as a preacher, to his 
voice and solemn manner, together with some original and 
peculiar qualities ; his education was slight and he had no 
literary taste. His voice was unequalled, not for melody or 
sweetness, but for its deep and solemn tones, which were at 
times almost terrific. He seemed like an ancient prophet, 
announcing woes and miseries, and the destruction of cities. 
His imagination was not fertile, capable of sublime concep- 
tions. Persons yet remember the deep sublimity of his 
prayer on the muster-field. Sitting on his horse, with open 
eyes, in the glare of the sunshine, he commenced : 'Storms 
and tempests, earthquakes, thunder and lightning, are Thy 
artillery, O ! Thou great God of battles ! Angels, and 
arch-angels form Thy phalanx. O ! Thou dread Lord of 
Hosts !" He went through his prayer without falling from 
this exalted tone. Yet his solemnity was all feigned and 
his general deportment was light and frivolous, with 
a strong disposition to banter and to indulge in sarcasm. 
His eccentricities, and his extravagant language alienated 
many of his hearers. Some withdrew, and seventeen formal 
charges against him were laid before the church by Dr. 
Foster Swift who then resided here. The hearing was in 
public. Not satisfied with defending himself, 'he carried 
the war into the enemy's quarter' — used weapons not com- 



160 BE MINIS OUNCES OF TAUNTON. 

mon among gentlemen, notwithstanding the grave formality 
of the charges, succeeded in burlesquing all, and turned a 
torrent of ridicule on his accuser. His salary was small, 
and he complained of it ; 'If the people of Taunton,' said he, 
'do not raise my salary, I will serve them a trick the Devil 
never did — I will leave them, and the Devil never did that." 
(Our modern ministers might perhaps occasionally get an 
advance by trying on this experiment, provided they could 
prevent their congregation from so frequently raising that 
^gentleman' to interfere.) The disaffection to Mr. Foster at 
last became so general that his dismission became a matter 
of necessity, and he was accordingly dismissed in 1799. He 
removed from Taunton to Stonington, in Connecticut — 
while there he embraced Uuiversalism. He left Stoning- 
ton and went to New York, where he kept school and 
preached occasionally. There he threw off his religious 
character altogether and became an open infidel, the fellow- 
laborer of Elihu Palmer, the atheist. His hearers were a 
rabble of profligates, and he entertained them with bur- 
lesque dissertations on the historical parts of the Scriptures, 
whose authenticity he wholly denied. Palmer, Tom Paine 
and Foster were too much for the city of New York to en- 
dure, and Foster was brought into court under an indict- 
ment for blasphemy." — The probability is, that there was no 
Tweed ring existing at that time in New York, nor profes- 
sional gentlemen unprincipled enough to protect the scoun- 
drels and share their plunders for so doing. We reckon that 
another Foster infidel might now preach his sentiments to 
fiill audiences and his converts would compare favorably, in 
point of moral character, with a large class of people in that 
city just now. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 161 

The successor of Mr. Foster was the Rev. John Pipoa, of 
whom a brief mention was made in one of our previous ar- 
ticles. The following interesting account of Mr. Pipon is 
from the pen of Hon. Francis Baylies, an intimate friend 
and acquaintance, and of course may be relied upon : 

"John Pipon, the successor of John Foster, was descend- 
ed from a family which emigrated from the Island of Jer- 
sey, in the British Channel, and was a native of Boston. 
He learned the trade of a, house-wright, at which he 
wrought for a short time, and afterwards prepared himself 
for college, and was graduated at Cambridge in 1792. He 
was for a time butler of the University, then x officiated 
as a reader at Christ church, and retired for a time at Bid- 
deford, in Maine. In 1798 he was at Cambridge pursuing 
liis studies in theology, and preaching occasionally in differ- 
ent towns. He was a member of the society of Phi Beta 
Kappa, once its vice-president, and once its annual orator. 
In 1799 he came to Taunton, where he received a call the 
same year, and was ordained in January, 1800. President 
Kirkland, then a minister of Boston, preached the ordina- 
tion sermon. The day on which lie was ordained seemed 
ominous of the mildness of the career on which he was en- 
tering, and an emblem of the benignity of his character, for 
although it was January, it was the finest day that was ever 
experienced in New England. His attention to his pa- 
rochial duties was incessant and unremitting. Although his 
visits to his parishoners were frequent, yet he never entered 
into their affairs with the ' officiousness of a meddler, but 
with the cordiality of a friend and interest of a lather. He 
enjoyed the festivities with all the glee and gladness of a 

21 



162 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

child ; and in the dark spots, where sorrow Avept and re- 
fused to be comforted, the consolations of this good man, 
administered with the tenderest sympathy, came like sun- 
beams through the gloom. Guile and envy had no place 
in his heart. The increasing thrift and comfort of his neigh- 
bors were to him a source of constant gratification. In this 
he was not disinterested, for the happiness of others increas- 
ed his own. He would have banished want and woe and 
suffering from the whole human race. When the Orthodox 
minister of Sandwich, harassed with perplexing and acri- 
monious lawsuits, was in attendance on the Courts sitting 
here, our 'good Samaritan' like him of old. did not 'pass 
by on the other side,' but attended him with the deepest sol- 
icitude for his welfare. His hospitality was not ceremon-' 
ious. He took his clerical brother to his home and to his 
heart. 'Brother Burr,' said he, 'is in afHictiou, and it is 
my duty to comfort him.' When solicited for relief or 
charity, he never shared the contents of his purse with the 
applicant, but if he had anything he gave the whole. After 
some severe taunts and rebukes from the late Prof Pear- 
son, he expressed no resentment, but great commiseration, 
because the Professor was afflicted with a bad temper. On 
another occasion a person repeated to him some severe re- 
marks upon his ministerial character, by a young clergy- 
man of the vicinity, 'Oh,' said Mr. P. in his peculiar mild 
tone, 'brother — is only a colt yet.' His general benevolence 
lost none of its strength by diffusion. He loved the whole 
human race, but he could concentrate his affections on in- 
dividuals. While he loved some well, he loved others bet- 
ter. The good he reverenced, the bad he pitied. Like 
Goldsmith, 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 1G3 

• 

'He quite forgot their vices in their woes, 

Careless their merits or their faults to scan, 

His pity gave, ere charity began. 

Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride. 

And e'en his failings lean'd to virtue's side ; 

But in his duty prompt at every call. 

Ho watch'd and wept, he prayed and felt for all.' 

No monk was ever more devoted to the interest of his 
order than he was to tlie interests of Harvard College. He 
delighted to call up all the reminiscences connected with its 
history — to look into the dusky recesses of the past — to re- 
joice in the present, and to exult in the prospects of the fu- 
ture. To him, Cambridge was Rome, and President Kirk- 
land the Pope, and he almost believed in his infallibility. 
He reverenced the ancient fathers of the New England 
churches, the Wilsons, the Cottons, the Mathers, the 
Chaunceys, and the Mayhews ol former days. Within his 
own sphere of influence he endeavored with all his soul and 
all his strength to promote the interests of education, to im- 
piove the course of discipline and instruction in the schools, 
and to elevate the character of our Academy. In genuine 
simplicity of character, he was unrivalled ; even the imagin- 
ary Vicar of Wakefield was no peer to the Taunton minis- 
ter. It was estimated that he had lost more than one thou- 
sand dollars in the exchange of ordinary horses. (He evi- 
dently knew less of the turf and fast horses, than some of 
his guild do at the present time — this is an interpolation.) 
His credulity was incurable, and his good nature, though 
often imposed upon, was rarely overcome. Sometimes, 
however, he found vexation in his path, and his equanimity 
was not proof against the teasing irritations of petty troub- 
les. When in a hurry to be shaved that he miirht attend an 



164 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

ordination, and vexed by the interminable stories of Tim. 
lugraham, the barber; 'Timothy,' said the parson, 'why 
don't you get a parrot, and hang him up in your shop? the 
parrot coukl talk to your customers, whilst you shaved 
them.' On another occasion — as w^as mentioned in a pre- 
vious article — he wished Gen'l Cobb was present to swear 
for him, but correcting himself instantly — he said, "l don't 
mean profanely." 

His social qualities were of a high order, and his social 
affectioDS highly cultivated. He delighted to witness the love- 
liness and cheerfulness of his friends ; he delighted to sit at 
the festive board ; he delighted in Commencement, Phi Beta 
Kappa, Ordination, Association, Court, Academy and Fourth 
of July dinners, for then it was that a part, at least, of the 
human race were enjoying the bounties of God's Providence 
with lively hearts. In these genial moments he was exceed- 
ingly interesting, and his conversation was enlivened with 
humorous and original remarks. The lamented Buckmin- 
ster and President Kirkland desired no better companion 
than the country minister. All men of wit and humor loved 
his society. The late Mr. Sproat, Mr. Tillinghast and Mr. 
Holmes of Rochester, (a celebrated trio of wits) found him 
no ordinary competitor in the warfare of wit. His hu- 
mor, though quaint, was neither coarse nor offensive. He 
had a strong sense of the ridiculous and a strong relish for 
every species of originality. 

Speaking of some bombastic Fourth of July oration he 
said, "I should be afraid to cross a ferry within hearing 
distance of the speaker, lest his hard words should knock 
me overboard." 

He hinted pleasantly to Mr. B that he did not attend 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 165 

public worship as ofteu as he ought. "Why," said Mr. 

B , "I take cold in the meeting house, and you know 

that a cold is a severe thing with me." "Yes," said he, 
"I know it is uncomfortable to sit in a meeting house witli- 
out a stove in cold weather^ but in summer you surely 

might do it without exposure." "But," said Mr. B . 

"what you get out of me, parson, is clear gain ; I am not of 
your sect." "Indeed," said the parson, "and pray of what 

sect are you?" "By hereditary descent," said Mr. B , 

"I am an Episcopalian." "Now, Francis," said the par- 
son, "you always wear a fashionable coat, why will you 
throw it off and put on one that is out of ftishion ?" 

A short time previous to delivering his oration before the 
Phi Beta Kappa, passing Julien's in Boston, he looked at 
the sign, "Restorator." "Good !" said he ; "Rest orator." 
I'll go in." 

Some one advised him to marry. "No," says he, "my 
salary can't carry double." 

His sermons were sound and never doctrinal. The topics 
of dispute which divided the religious community were 
carefully avoided, and no offence given to tender conscien- 
ces. His delivery and voice were bad. There was no ex- 
citing power in his elocution, and he was seldom animated. 
His simplicity sometimes bordered on the ludicrous. Ooce, 
after a long series of excellent and pious remarks, he closed 
by observing, "All these truths you will find in your Bibles. 
When you go home, look. Now do !" 

In prayer he was affecting and pathetic. He poured forth 
the ardent emotions — the deep devotion of his soul, in lan- 
guage which sometimes approached the Oriental simplicity 
of the Scriptures. The passages which he quoted from the 



166 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

Holy Writings were strikingly appropriate. His words 
came forth with a glow, fervor and freshness which indicat- 
ed a disposition to love the human race, and to reverence 
the Great Being whom he addressed. He entreated Him 
as a father to pardon and to spare his erring children. 

Strangers delighted with tlie eloquence of his prayers, 
were generally disappointed. His sermons did not answer 
the expectations which his prayers had raised, as they were 
generally dull and uninteresting. 

His useful and quiet life was quietly terminated. After 
preaching on the Sabbath, he retired to his bed in the even- 
ing, apparently in good health. About midnight he died, 
after a labor in the ministry of twenty-one years. He was 
subject to the Angina Pectoris, and it is supposed that a 
sudden attack of that disease took him from a world which 
he loved to one which he loved better. 

His death occurred in the month of January, 1821. His 
remains repose among his people. His age, at the time of 
his death, was upwards of sixty. The writer well remem- 
bers the morning of the announcement of his death. It was 
so sudden and unexpected that all hearts were shocked. He 
was greatly beloved and universally mourned by all who 
knew him. He lived a guileless, simple, pure-hearted, un- 
selfish life, and the memory of the tenderness, gentleness, 
and overflowing love which he manifested for all stirs the 
heart afresh, and sweetens the recollections of all those friends 
who knew him best. 

We here close the sketches of the earlier ministers of 
Taunton . 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 1G7 



ARTICLE XIX. 



AROUND THE GREEN. 

The last building described, in a previous article, before 
the notice of the ministers was commenced, was the oflice 
next beyond the house of Capt. Hall. The next building 
was the fine mansion of John West, Esq., (now occupied 
by Hon. 8. L. Crocker,) who, as before stated, removed 
from Boston and built upon this spot in 1810 — 11. Mr. 
West was a gentleman of the old school, of a a warm-lieart- 
ed and generous disposition. He was always ready to assist 
in all good enterprises, prompt to aid and advise young men 
in pursuit of employment or business. In all public enter- 
prises he was first to join, and to charitable objects he gave 
freely. He was prominent among those who raised the fund 
for the Unitarian Society, the interest of which was to be ap- 
plied for the benefit and use of the same. But the princi- 
pal has been absorbed, and a society note given in its place, 
the money having been expended in ornamentations and ad- 
ditions to the meeting house. Quae amissa scdva. He was 
of the house of West, Richardson & Lord, dealers at whole- 
sale in books and stationery, in Boston. On moving to 
Taunton he still retained the interest in the firm. He built 
a paper mill at West Taunton, and in company with Cap- 
tain Richard Park carried on the manufacture of paper. A 



168 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

large portion of the product of the mill, when it was first 
started, was sent to his firm in Boston. The business was 
successful and profitable, and was continued many years un- 
der the old firm. It finally passed into the hands of Mr. 
Park ; I think Mr. West, after a time, sold his interest in 
the Boston house and built near the site of the paper mill, 
what is still called the West Factory. It was a stone struct- 
ure and run by the same water power as the paper mill. 
This investment was quite heavy, requiring a large sum and 
the proceeds of the sale of his interest in the Boston house 
were, probably, all invested in this mill. The mill was run 
for many years, but it did not net much profit to Mr. West 
in the end. He carried on quite a farming business, but 
rather of the fancy character, where more money was prob- 
ably spent than made. The next house Avas the Taunton 
Hotel, long and favorably known as the first among the 
hostelries of the place. It was kept by Mr. Isaac Dow at 
this time, but he removed to Newport, and the house w^as 
taken by Mr. Geo. Atwood, who formerly kept the Weth- 
erby tavern. At this hotel. Uncle Jesse's stages all stopped 
and started on their various trips out and in. In front of 
the hotel, about noon, not unfrequently could be seen three 
or four stages — four horse teams — with small pyramids of 
baggage and lots of passengers, mixed up and mingled to- 
gether, making things lively, and Uncle Jesse was always 
on hand and ubiquitous, looking after trunks and "ram- 
l)rills," until the stages were all dispatched. The passen- 
gers, in some of the lines, stopped and dined on their way. 
Thus, about noon of each day the village presented a lively 
appearance with the coming in and going out of the difi'er- 
ent lines of staires. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 169 

The GrecD at that time presented a very difFerent ap- 
pearance from its present aspect. City Square was some 
three or four feet lower than at the present time. The road 
in front of the brick block running west was also corres- 
pondingly deep. The bank on that side of the green was 
also some four to six feet high, and from the hotel front 
down to the road there was quite a sharp hill ; and the road 
was descending until it reached the bridges over the river. 
This hill made quite a coasting locality for the boys in win- 
ter, as they could run nearly to the Fisher house when the 
coasting was prime. There was a road running from the 
corner of the Green, at the site of the present City Hotel, 
through the centre, to the corner opposite the old Taunton 
Hotel, cutting through the hill there and having banks on 
either side some four to six feet high. This road was used 
as a common highway for teams and carriages. The Green 
was surrounded with the Lombardy Poplar trees, which had 
been then recently introduced into the country. They were 
of rapid groAvth, and soon became tall and graceful looking 
trees. But they lost their grace and beauty in a few years, 
the limbs becoming dry, withered and dead. Like old 
bachelors, they commence dying at the top, the limbs with- 
ering and leaves falling, making an imsightly appearance. 
Sometime in 1820-1, they were cut down and the Green 
was made level and graded, and the present elm trees were 
set out ; and some years later the present stone post and 
iron fence was built by private subscription. Some of these 
splendid elms have been ruined by the horses hitched at the 
fence, and some are still exposed to their depredations upon 
the bark of the trees. IT the City Government Avould ex- 
pend a few dollars for their protection, it would be gratify- 

22 



170 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

ing to the present generation, and doubtless gratefully re- 
membered by those who are to follow ns hereafter. Mr. 
Mayor, yon, in former days played with the boys on this 
pleasant spot, and it is doubtless associated still with many 
pleasant recollections of those happy days. Why not then 
have the old elms protected for the pleasure and benefit of 
the coming generations, as w^ell as for the gratification of 
the present ? The writer feels a sort of family interest in 
their protection, as, when a boy in the store of Hodges & 
Seaver, he with a big hoop and two water-pails, brought 
from the well in the yard of Mr. Tillinghast, now on the 
site of the City Hotel, water for the row of elms on the east 
side of the Green, each morning for a long time, to keep 
them alive and start them on their upward journey. The 
trees acknowledged the attention and put out new and fresh 
leaves, and have kept on rejoicing — like ladies in their new 
bonnets — for more than a century. Let them "still live" 
and cast their grateful shade and shadows upon our chil- 
dren's children, until the running cycles of Time shall bury 
them in the graves of their own faded leaves. 



"Old Taunton, loveliest village of the plain, 
Where health and plenty cheer'd the lab'ring swain, 
Where smiling spring its earliest visit paid, 
And parting summer's ling'ring blooms delayed ; 
Dear lovely bowers of innocence and ease. 
Seats of my youth, when every sport could please ; 
How often have I loitered o'er thy 'Green,' 
Where humble happiness endeared each scene ? 
How often, in the shadows of thy trees. 
Heard the sweet music of the summer breeze — 
Enjoyed the cool retreats thy green tents made. 
Whilst thus embowered in sunshine and in shade.' 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 171 



''Woodman, spare that tree! 

Touch not a single bough ! 
In youth it sheltered me, 

And I'll protect it now. 
'Twas vaj forefather's hand 

That placed it near his cot ; 
There woodman let it stand, 

The axe shall harm it not.' 



City Square before it was filled up was a basin which not 
unfrequently, in a heavy shower, when the grates happened 
to get clogged, would hold enough water to make a minia- 
ture lake. But now it has been raised as much too high as 
it formerly was too low, and the basement of the Field 
block is nearly buried in consequence. We don't know 
who had the engineering in charge .when this great mistake 
was made, but it is much to be regretted, as it detracts 
greatly from the fine appearance that block would have made 
were the roads in front aad on the side of the same three 
feet lower. 

At the Taunton Hotel the Judges of the Court and the 
prominent members of the Bar generally put up on Court 
weeks, and this brought together the wit, wisdom and hu- 
mor of the county. At the public table there was gener- 
ally a good display of these qualities, which made the din- 
ner table especially enjoyable. Mr. Holmes, Mr. Tilling- 
hast, Mr. Sproat, and Messrs. William and Francis Bay- 
lies were generally well charged and ready for a fire, and 
they kept the company at the tables in great -good humor 
and in a jolly condition, without the aid of much other stim- 
ulus, which, however, was not entirely ignored on those oc- 
casions. 



172 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

In the centre of the Green there was a well and two 
wooden pumps, with a platform around the same, and a long- 
trough from which to water the cattle and horses of the 
teams which came into town. In the summer nights the 
band frequently gathered on this spot and serenaded the vil- 
lage, while the inmates of the houses sat by the open win- 
doAvs and in the doorways and porticos listening to the same. 
■At the Taunton Hotel the prominent men of the town were 
gathered, generally, in the evening to discuss the topics, pol- 
itics and exciting questions of the day. Here the meetings 
for any proposed public demonstrations, celebrations and 
improvements were held, and the propositions considered, 
matured and decided. Here the caucuses of the federalists 
were held and the nominations for office were made. This 
hotel was considered headquarters for the federalists. The 
democrats quite often held their caucuses in the Shaw tav- 
ern at the Weir, but after the Tammany Hall was built, the 
important caucuses were generally held there by the demo- 
crats. At the Taunton Hotel the beverage of soda water 
was first introduced soon after it made its advent in Boston, 
but not, however, to the total exclusion of something warm- 
er. In a short time the apparatus for making it was pur- 
chased and the soda was made here and sold to various par- 
ties in other towns. Here, also, the first ice-house was built 
in town, and the hotel supplied with that luxury, without 
which the soda was worthless. After the introduction of 
soda the ice was procured in Providence for some time, but 
the expense was such as to cause the building of an ice- 
house here. No families dreamed of having supplies of ice 
for family use in those days, and they had to hang their but- 
ter and fresh meats down in the wells to keep them sweet 



RE3IINISGENCES OF TAUNTON. 173 

and cool, and to draw the water from the northwest corners 
of the wells in the hot weather to get a cooling draught. On 
Fourth of July and other public celebrations the ice was 
procured from the cities to cool the punches and lemonade, 
and also to modify the liquor thermometer. 

There were whist clubs, which met weekly at the hotel, 
formed of the gentlemen of the village, but they rarely 
played later than ten o'clock p. m., and the stakes were 
light, just enough to make the game interesting, it was said. 
Court weeks, however, brought a class into the town w^hich 
came for the purpose of gambling, and the names of some 
of them the writer well remembers. They Vvere here just 
as regularly as the courts were held, and no doubt some of 
the professional gentlemen of the law" had their wallets quite 
often depleted of the retaining fee. First and last, quite a 
quantity of cards were used up here, and after the house 
was purchased by Hon. S. L. Crocker, aod demolished, and 
the site made into a garden, if a card-tree had started up, 
bearing full packs of cards and. flowering into aces, kings, 
queens and jacks, possibly it would not have been consider- 
ed supernatural or miraculous, and the question of what is 
trumps would have been asked all the same. The hotel was 
kept by Mr. George Atwood until his death, in 1821, and 
afterward by his son, George B. Atwood, for a number of 
years. Subsequently it was kept by Mr. William H. Leon- 
ard, and after him by Mr William Munroe from Provi- 
dence, and finally as a boarding house. There was a small 
barber's shop, under the professional, tonsorial manogemeut 
of the facetious, story-telling ''Timothy," on the grounds of 
the hotel. 

The next building stood at the bottom of the hill, on 



174 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

the corner of the road leading west. It was one and 
one-half stories high, with a store below and dwelling 
rooms above, and known as "the little hotel." These rooms 
were occupied sometimes by families and sometimes as offi- 
ces. Mr. Sproat occupied them for some time after his ap- 
pointment as Clerk of the Courts, and until the new county- 
house was built for the public offices, I think. The lower 
room or store was occupied from time to time for various 
purposes, and in 1818-19, or about that time, in it was 
opened a grocery by the late Mr. Jas. Woodward. He subse- 
quently was appointed Deputy Sheriff, and for some years 
continued the business of the store in connection with that 
of his office. He finally gave up the store and devoted his 
time to his official business. He continued in his office for 
many years, a faithful, trustworthy, warm-hearted, honest 
man, and finally resigned or declined a re-appointment. He 
was prompt to aid and assist young men in their efforts to 
begin or engage in business for themselves, as the writer 
can say from experience. He was a good neighbor and a 
firm friend, and he lived to a good old age, and died respect- 
ed by all who knew him. On the road leading from this 
store to the west, or the river, there was a shed in connec- 
tion with the hotel yard, and beyond that a garden, extend- 
ing to the large barn, used by the hotel and by Mr. West 
in common. This barn ran over a part of the river^and 
made a portion of the railing of the bridges. Just beyond 
the two bridges was the fulling mill and dye-house of the 
Messrs. Sturtevant, who had in connection with those build- 
ings, a small store also. They did a successful business for 
some time, and were succeeded by Mr. Roswell Ballard. It 
was at this place that the celebrated Dr. Liebnitz Herschel, 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 175 

whose motto was "Know thyself," and who was supposed 
to be a lineal descendant of his great namesake, first dawn- 
ed upon our vision. He was engaged in the dying-room 
dapartmeut and professed to be an expert in the art of col- 
oring cloths, and producing the various tints of the rainbow 
and transferring the same indelibly into the warp and Avoof 
of all kinds of cloths and yarns. The doctor was a profound 
philosopher ; he discussed all questions, whether literary, 
scientific, geological, theological, or those abstruse specula- 
tions pertaining to demonology, astrology, psychology, phy- 
siology, or the exact and occult sciences. He was deep and 
profound on the preadamite man, the origin of evil of mol- 
ecules and primates, and was at home on all other questions 
which have taxed the minds of the profoundest scholars and 
philosophers of the age and the ages. And when the doctor 
commenced one of his learned and eloquent disquisitions he 
held the hearer with a iliagnetism impossible to describe. 
His inspiration was an inexhaustible fountain, which ran on 
forever, never ceasing until all his audience had left and he 
found himself talking to vacancy. The doctor, however, 
soon found his philosophical and scientific engagements such 
as compelled him to give up his coloring business, and he 
turned his attention to giving color to the great questions 
agitating the savans and scholars of the time. At one time 
he undertook to utilize the Falls of Niagara by building a 
factory of sufficient dimensions and capacity to furnish the 
world with all the fabrics which the people required. To 
this end he employed a professional gentleman in town, pos- 
sessing a fund of quiet humor, to draw up a subscription 
paper, setting forth in glowing colors his proposition and 
the feasibility of its success. This document was unique in 



176 BEMINI8CENCES OF TAUNTON. 

every point of view, giving estimates of the power and ca- 
pacity of the immense structure, the amount of the proposed 
production of the various departments, and the certainty of 
a never failing supply of water power, and the innumerable 
advantages it would possess over any other manufacturing 
establishment in the world. This prospectus was an entire- 
ly original production, and it is to be regretted that a copy 
has not been preserved. The centennial buildings, with the 
immense engine for the operation of the machinery in the 
same, sink into insignificance when compared with Dr. 
Herschel's plans and prospectus. The startling propositions 
it contained acted like magic on the public mind, producing 
the most profound sensations and exciting the highest ex- 
pressions of commendation by all the business community. 
The doctor limited the least amount that each person should 
subscribe to one thousand dollars, and perhaps the highest 
was ten thousand dollars — I am not positive to this, how- 
ever. He first visited Nev/ Bedford, where the great capi- 
talists resided and still continue to reside. He presented his 
document to the first among that class, and it was surpris- 
ing to see the avidity with which persons subscribed for the 
stock. He obtained large amounts there, varying from 
three thousand to ten thousand dollars each, and returned 
here with flying colors, which, however, in the end proved 
more insubstantial and fugitive than any he ever embodied 
in his cloths. He soon succeeded in getting the balance of 
his subscription to the capital stock, however, taken up here 
and in other towns. The amount of capital stock was some- 
thing less, according to my recollection, than one hundred 
millions of dollars. But obtaining the subscription was 
much easier than obtaining a reliable contractor to put up 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 177 

the buildings. The Tweed contracts and contractors of the 
New York ring had not made their appearance at this 
time ; there were no (professional) railroad robbers shout- 
ing ''Reform," and the doctor spent a year or more search- 
ing for a responsible contractor, without success. The coun- 
try therefore lost the chance of furnishing the rest of man- 
kind with all the necessary articles required to keep the 
world moving, to say nothing of the doctor's disappoint- 
ment, nor of the incomes which such a manufactory would 
have produced ! But we must stop here and finish the doc- 
tor in our next, giving the reader the following quoted lines 
for sober consideration and silent contemplation : 

■ ** Where goes the candle when it dies ? 
The leaf, the music, summer's sighs ? 
A finished thought, a world, a death ? 
Where is the home of parted breath ? 
Where goes a year, an age, nay, thine ? 
Where is the end, the great sublime ? 
All, all but centre round their being, 
The Great Omnipotent, All-Seeing! 
Unending and unchanged forever; 
In vain the end from Him we sever — 
All ends are hid in God !" 



n 



178 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



ARTICLE XX. 



ECCENRTIC CHARACTERS. 

In our last article we left Dr. Herschel in despair of get- 
ting a contractor to put up his mills at Niagara Falls, al- 
though he occasionally talked of finally succeeding when the 
times w^ere more propitious. He subsequently turned his 
attention to gardening, whitewashing and painting. He 
was always ready, however, to stop work and enter upon 
the discussion of the abstruse and occult questions presented 
to him by the contemporary philosophers of his time. At 
one time, when the Orthodox society wished to contract for 
the painting of their meeting house steeple, and found the 
propositions for performing the work rather more than they 
wanted to pay, the doctor intimated that he would do the 
job for considerably less than the other parties had asked, 
although he thought it worth a shilling per day extra. At 
first the doctor's bid was not considered in a serious man- 
ner, but after considerable discussion, and hearing the doc- 
tor's plan explained, which was that the steeple could be 
painted without the necessity of building a staging and 
platform around it, thereby saving a large portion of the 
expense — his proposition was accepted ; the doctor therefore 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 179 

commenced operations. How he managed to get up to the 
top of the spire 1 do not recollect, but I believe he went np 
by driving nails near the lightning rod and following that 
in his ascent. He managed, however, to reach the top of 
the spire, to the spindle of which he fastened a rope by a 
noose, and to this he attached a double-blocked tackle and 
fall, at one end of which he had a board seat. By this ar- 
rangement he could raise and lower himself at his pleasure. 
His paint-pot was also attached to his seat, and he had only 
to pull himself up and let himself down in order to accom- 
plish his undertaking. During the time occupied by the 
doctor in this elevated position, he was the object of much 
curiosity, and the eyes of travellers were fixed upon him as 
they passed with much interest. When the doctor came 
down for his meals, and the people inquired how he felt 
when swinging up so high in the air with no foothold to rest 
upon, he said he had no fears about the operation. In fact, 
he seemed entirely at his ease, and appeared to like the job 
uncommonly well. Besides, it gave him opportunity to 
dilate upon the sensations incident to his elevated position 
for the time being. His success was, as he assumed, only 
an illustration of how the humblest individual, by patience, 
perseverance and courage, could overcome the severest ob- 
stacles in the pathway of life, and enable themselves to rise 
both physically and intellectually to positions from which 
they could look down and smile upon all those below. The 
doctor was eloquent when treating upon the strength, powers, 
resources and capabilities of the human mind. He in due 
time successfully finished the work, and was congratulated 
on all sides for his courage and perseverance in prosecuting 
the same. Not long after this, some one met the doctor and 



180 BEMINISGENGES OF TAUNTON. 

jokiugly asked him what he would charge for whitewashing 
the Green overhead, and he promptly replied that he would 
do the job cheap, if the gentleman would build the staging, 
and thereby turned the tables on the joker. But the doctor, 
like many other cele5rated and distinguished savans and 
philosophers, after many years' service in various positions 
here, finally succumbed to the mysterious, magnetic and 
deleterious influence of the "fire waters." After repeatedly 
visiting the curative seminary in New Bedford for the re- 
cuperation of his bodily health, and in due time coming forth 
like a sun-dog from a fog, he finally returned to that retreat, 
from whence he left his work upon terra firma for that 
which w^as given him to do in the spheres beyond. He was 
Bara avis in terris nigroque simillima cygno, and Reqidescat 
in -pace should be cut upon his head-stone. 

Previous to the advent of Herschel, we had here another 
singular person, differing entirely in all respects from the 
doctor, who, in consequence of his conduct and social posi- 
tion, claims a passing notice. This individual was Charles 
Leonard, and a connection ol* Hon. Daniel Leonard, men- 
tioned in our account of the former eminent lawyers here. 
In the commencement of the troubles which led to the revo- 
lutionary war, Mr. Leonard espoused at first the cause 
of his country, and wrote freely for the press in Boston, 
advocating with ability the rights of Colonists. But after- 
wards, through the manipulations of Gov. Hutchinson, he 
became a virulent loyalist, and published articles in a 
loyalist paper in Boston in favor of the measures of the 
king, ministry and the parliament, which were replied to 
by John Adams in another article, under the signature of 
"Novanglus." 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 181 

The Tory sentiments of Mr. Leonard compelled him to 
leave town, and obtain the protection of Gov. Hutchinson in 
Boston. The Taunton boys of freedom made it rather warm 
for the distinguished turncoat, and the house he occupied — 
now Mrs. Richmond's, and near to the Court House — still 
bears the scars, unless recently erased, of the bullets of the 
revolutionary boys of old Taunton. As stated in a previous 
article, Mr. Leonard left Boston for England, where he re- 
ceived the appointment of Chief Justice of Bermuda. What 
the family connection existing between him and the Charles 
Leonard left here was I do not know, but possibly the latter 
may have been a nephew of the former. At any rate, it was 
through the former that Charles received an income of seven 
hundred dollars per year. His guardian, or the agent 
through whom his income was received, was Hon. Laban 
Wheaton of Norton. This was a wise provision, for he was 
entirely unfit and incompetent to manage any financial mat- 
ters. He was, however, at home in the department of 
spending money, and rarely had a dollar in his pocket ten 
days after receiving his quarterly income. 

He boarded at the hotel, and was noted for his peculiari- 
ties, pomposity, pride and assurance. His dress, while in 
the house, was a long white flannel frock-coat, and the 
other ordinary clothing. This he appeared in on all occa- 
sions. At the table, he was very social, and particularly 
precise and polite. He was highly educated, and could con- 
verse intelligently on the questions of the day. He was on 
intimate terms with the first persons in the place, and was 
always exceedingly polite and agreeable in conversation. Of 
course, he belonged to the various whist clubs, and was in- 
vited to the other private gatherings of the gentlemen of the 



182 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

place. He was, however, with all his refinement and po- 
liteness, a great bore to the young ladies of the hotel. If 
there was a little party or gathering of the girls, day or 
night, he never failed to invade their precinct and prevent 
their indulgence in that unrestrained conversation and criti- 
cism of their compeers which rumor says they like so well. 
He did not hesitate on these occasions to ferret them out, 
knock at the door, and when opened, to enter with a pro- 
found bow and a very polite request to be excused for the 
interruption. Here he would stop, either standing bolt up- 
right in one spot or walking to and fro, and monopolizing 
the t,ime and conversing, completely destroying the pleasure 
and exasperating the temper of the young ladies ; and if he 
could have listened at the keyhole after leaving, he might 
have been amused, perhaps. He enjoyed dinnerparties and 
convivial occasions hugely, and was always ready to accept 
invitations to the same. After having participated in fre- 
quent attentions of this kind, he decided to reciprocate the 
politeness of his friends by giving a grand dinner, and he 
made the most costly and elaborate arrangements for the 
same to be prepared at the hotel on a certain day. The in- 
vitations were sent out some time in advance, and when the 
day arrived all the first gentlemen of the place sat down to a 
grand feast of the substantials and solids, followed by the 
limpids and liquors. The dinner was a success, and the 
guests had a splendid time. Mr. Leonard and his grand 
feast were the theme of comment and praise far and near 
many days afterward. But in the course of some two weeks 
following, each individual was interviewed by him, and a 
loan of five dollars politely requested until he could get a re- 
mittance, which was every day expected. After having en- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 183 

joyed the hospitality of their friend so recently, the gentle- 
men could hardly refuse the small loan asked for, and he 
obtained the necessary funds in this manner to liquidate the 
expenses of his dinner. The gentlemen had the pleasure, 
and satisfaction also, of paying five dollars each for the din- 
ner which they so highly enjoyed as his guests. His guar- 
dian was a close, money-getting person, and was exceeding- 
ly chary in supplying him with pocket-money, and rarely 
ever ready to pay his board bills when due, always having 
the excuse that no remittances had been received ; while 
some people thought he had a good sum at interest which 
in fact really belonged to his ward. At all events, it grew 
from year to year more and more difficult to collect any 
bills from him. Meantime, the eccentric Charles gradually 
grew more and more in love with the fire-waters and became 
less and less desirous as a boarder. 

He pretended to be a sportsman and a great shot, and, on 
one occasion, when he with a party went out to hunt rab- 
bits, he explained on his return the reason why he did not 
bring home any trophy of the sport. He stated that a rab- 
bit ran across his path and stopped and set up directly be- 
fore him, and that he felt so bound in honor to give him a 
fair chance for his life that he declined to fire his charge of 
shot under such circumstances, but decided to draw the 
charge and put in a bullet, to give the poor animal fair 
play, and that while engaged in this operation the rabbit, af- 
ter a little reflection, decided not to wait for him to finish 
recharging his gun, but started anew on his track. As time 
passed on, he became more and more addicted to intemper- 
ate habits, and grew more troublesome as a boarder, until he 
lapsed into a confirmed drunkard and sot. His guardian 



184 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

for a while paid his board at such cheap boarding places as 
could be found williug to take such a nuisance. He finally 
became deranged, and wandered about the streets in filthy, 
tattered garments, occasionally going into the houses and 
frightening the females by taking any article he fancied and 
marching off with his spoil. The boys gave him the name 
of "Moogeon Charles;" his old friends called him "Smell- 
fungus." The writer remembers of his rushing into the 
cooking kitchen of the hotel one Sunday, about noon, and 
seizing a carving-knife from the table, with which he cut a 
beautifully-bound Bible through the centre and threw both 
parts into the fire, and then rushed out before anyone could 
offer r-esistance to the act. He had stolen the Bible from 
a house in the village. On another occasion, as the. writer, 
when a boy, was on his way over the bridge near the old 
grist mill, he saw crazy Charles come out on the run from 
old Aunt Molly Fish's house and rush down to the bridge, 
apparently highly delighted. On reaching the bridge, he 
threw something into the river and passed on his way. On 
going to the spot and looking into the water, we saw a 
bright, round silver dollar, as we thought, at the bottom of 
the water, whereupon we ran down to the old mill, slipped 
off our clothes, and swam out to the spot, went to the bot- 
tom, and brought up an old French silver crown, which he 
had frightened out of Aunt Molly, to whom it was returned, 
and for which she was very grateful. 

A favorite spot with him was the bank of the Green op- 
posite the Dunbar block. On the borders of this bank he 
walked, dressed up in the most fantastical manner, mutter- 
ing strange gibberish and laughing in a wild, insane man- 
ner, week after week, until he actually wore off the sod and 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 185 

made a firm, thoroughly beaten pathway. He thus became 
an outcast, without home, means or friends, dependent upon 
the charities of the families wjiose kitchens he visited for 
his food. Abandoned by his guardian, who refused assis- 
tance, stating that his remittances from Bermuda had ceased, 
he was left to wander alone and friendless, dependent upon 
charity, through the remainder of a wretched life. It was 
thought by many that if he had received what actually be- 
longed to him, he might have been comfortably provided for 
in his miserable condition before his death. 



u 



186 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 



ARTICLE XXI 



WESTMINSTER (nOW COHANNET) STREET, 

In a previous article we had reached to Messrs. Sturte- 
vant's fulling mill and dye house, just beyond the bridge on 
Westminster street, from which establishment first dawned 
upon the astonished vision of the people the celebrated phil- 
osopher, Liebnitz Herschel, described in a former article. 

These buildings were on the north side of the river and 
opposite to the old Grossman grist mill. They were locat- 
ed just below the dam and the fishway, and there w^as afoot 
bridge from the buildings to the opposite side of the stream. 
Under this bridge all the herrings passed up and reached 
the dam through a stone passage way. From this bridge 
the schools of herrings could easily be seen as they passed 
up and under the same. A big darkey named Eph Hull, 
who worked in the mill, had a large drop-net attached to the 
four corners of some bent hoops, and listened at the centre 
of the top to a long pole, with which, from that bridge, he 
nearly monopolized the catching of the herrings, as he scar- 
ed away those he did not catch. The boys stationed above 
him in the passage way complained seriously on account of 
his frightening the herrings and preventing them from pass- 
ing up on their way to tlie dam, so that they could scoop 
them out with their hand nets. The warfare was carried on 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 187 

for some time, until it reached a crisis, and the big darkey 
was attacked by a friend of the boys above him, and he and 
his net were tumbled into the river on one occasion. The 
boys also threatened to dislodge the foot bridge, which was 
built for the accommodation of the mill, unless this contra- 
band fishing was stopped. The belligerents after a time, 
however, came to a satisfactory understanding, and there- 
after "all remained quiet on the Potomac." 

The next building beyond this mill was a blacksmith's 
shop, occupied by Stephen Robinson, who was for a long 
time prominent in that business. He did most of the horse- 
shoeing and carriage work of the place, and was popular 
with the people. But after a while he became involved and 
one of his creditors sued him, and he had to go to jail. He 
had, however, the sympathy generally of his customers and 
creditors, and obtained bondsmen for the liberty of the yard, 
and through the aid and assistance of the keeper of the jail, 
Mr. Abiezer Dean (who was ever ready in all good works,) 
a small blacksmith's shop was improvised in the shed near 
the house, and Mr. Robinson was employed in making case- 
hardened handcuffs and fetters of chains for the use of the 
establishment. He also had work brought to him by his 
friends, and was therefore generally occupied by his work. 

The party who sued him, it was thought, arranged with 
some other conspirators to seize him when an opportunity 
should offer and force him over the boundary lines of the 
liberty of the yard. The time chosen was court week, when 
there was usually quite a crowd of strangers in town, which 
would render it more difficult to recognize the persons at- 
tempting the outrage, and also more likely to result in suc- 
cess. One of the limits, beyond which a creditor was pro- 



188 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

liibited from goiug, was "Jocky Laue," now Weir street, 
leading from City Square. Around this square and in Jocky 
Lane the old horses from various towns were gathered, very 
similar in appearance to those which now visit us from 
Slab Bridge. Here the bets on races were made, and here 
horses were swapped, bought and sold at prices ranging 
from five dollars to twenty-five dollars per head. It was not 
often that any higher priced animal was offered for sale 
here. 

Of course, around these localities the crowd gathered to 
see the fun and listen to the honest statements made by each 
party touching the. speed, wind, bottom and blood of the 
horses. The show and the scene on these occasions were 
unique and well worth seeing. In the afternoon, while the 
spectators were gathering in crowds near the centre of at- 
traction, Mr. Robinson, with quite a number of his friends, 
came up near to the boundary limits, beyond which, if he 
passed, his bondsmen were held to pay the amount of the 
debt for which he was jailed. Pretty soon, quite a crowd 
gathered near the spot where they stood, and, suddenly clos- 
ing around him, they began pushing him and his friends 
toward the prohibited line. The party at once became aware 
of their object, as some of the persons in the movement were 
identified as the friends of the creditor, and the design they 
had in view was apparent. Mr. Robinson's party made a 
stand, and for a short time there was lively work, but the 
conspirator^ found themselves liors de comhat after a brief 
rough and tumble melee. Mr. Robinson and his friends 
therefore came out of the jam and crowd triumphant, while 
some of the assailants had to dust their coats and re-arrange 
their dickies and ruffled shirts. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 189 

Among the party assaulting was one well-known person, 
and he was sued for attempting this outrage. He was the. 
brother of a notorious deputy sheriif, who always served all 
the writs of a lawyer in his neighborhood, and they botli 
became quite notable for their uniform success in making 
attachments on property of persons who had failed, which 
invariably antedated all others, and thereby secured the pay- 
ment of their claims. It was considered quite singular that 
they were always ahead in thus placing the first attachment 
on the same property which had been attached by other 
creditors before it was known by the public that these parties 
were in trouble. But this success brought more grists to 
the law-mill which run the business. 

There was great excitement when this assault case was 
tried, and a good deal of flourishing of swallow-tailed coats 
and display of white stockings and morocco pumps by the 
defendant and his friends, as they gathered upon the Green 
on that occasion. I do not remember certainly as to the 
result of the trial, but I think he was convicted and fined. 
After this, no further attempt was made upon Mr. Robin- 
son, and in due time he regained his liberty, and the credi- 
tor lost his debt. 

Mr. Robinson was succeeded by Messrs. Eliot & Cas- 
well, who continued the blacksmithing business at the old 
stand. They subsequently built a flume to the dam and put 
into their shop a trip-hammer, the first which was operated 
io the place. This was considered something wonderful, 
and many persons, male and female, visited the shop to see 
it work. Mr. Eliot had a great reputation for making edge 
tools, and his axes were considered the best in the market. 



190 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

The firm was succeeded by Caswell & Allen, who carried 
on the business afterwards. 

The next building was a small, one-story shop, occupied 
for a time by Caleb Porter, who was engaged in the brass 
casting business, making small castings and sleigh bells. 
Beyond this, just above the water way, across the road, 
which supplied the old grist mill, was the house of Mr.Seth 
Johnson, mentioned in a previous article. Subsequently, 
Nathan J'isher bought the house and built his work shop 
adjoining it, and removed from his shop on Main street, oc- 
cupying the house for his residence and prosecuting his bus- 
iness in the shop. 

The next w^as the house of Mr. W. A. Crocker, standing 
on the site now occupied by Winslow Church. A lady of 
the ancient days, Miss Tabitha Lincoln of West Taunton, 
who was familiar with the history of auld lang syne [is 
handed down from generation to generation, informed her 
friends and contemporaries, through whom the information 
has reached the present times, that there w^as, in the early 
settlement of Taunton, a substantial fort built upon the spot 
occupied by this house. The fort was the place of rendez- 
vous, or retreat^ for the inhabitants whenever they had warn- 
ing that the Indians were in the neighborhood, and feared 
that an attack might be made upon the village. Large bod- 
ies of the Indians were often in the custom of passing 
through the place on hunting expeditions or for the purpose 
of holding council with the great King Philip at Mount 
Hope. 

Whenever notice was given of the approach of the Indians 
in unusual numbers, the womeu and children were gathered 
into the fort and guarded until the danger of an attack was 



EEMINISGENCES OF TAUNTON. 191 

over. The inhabitants, however, never had much trouble 
in this direction, as the Indians were generally peaceable 
and friendly. The house of Mr. Crocker Avas built by Cap- 
tain Luscomb, who followed the sea, and had made a com- 
fortable provision for the future in this business. The cap- 
tain, however, having expended more than his estimates in 
completing the house, determined on making one more sea 
voyage for the purpose of replenishing his cotFers and en- 
abling him to live in a comfortable manner at home. 

Having made the necessary preparations for the voyage, 
he took with him six young men from the village and start- 
ed on his journey, but neither the vessel nor the crew re- 
turned to port, and it was supposed that the vessel was 
wrecked and all on board were lost. Mr. William Allen 
Crocker was the father of William, Samuel L., and George 
A. Crocker, all of whom became distinguished as men of 
wealth and influence. They originated the manufacture of 
copper and zinc here, and formed the large stock company 
of Crocker Bros. & Co., which is still under the manage- 
ment of Hon. Samuel L. Crocker, and has taken rank as 
among the first in the country, and become one of the most 
successful manufactories also. Mr. W. A. Crocker was 
the brother of Hon. Samuel Crocker. He was perhaps one 
of the most energetic and successful business men of the 
town. He entered early into the manufacturing of iron 
and, I think, owned wholly or in part the forge at Norton. 
He did a very profitable business, and pushed ahead with 
such judgment and executive ability that he accumulated 
wealth very rapidly. He was a young man when he died, 
and his property, at the time of his death, was estimated at 
twenty-five thousand dollars, which was then considered an 



192 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

independent fortune, and was the largest amount which had, 
at that time, been left by any person in the place who had 
deceased. If he had lived to the usual age of man, he would 
undoubtedly have been among the wealthiest men in the 
town. The house he resided in was a fine, comfortable, 
old-fashioned two-story structure, and had a convenient 
projection in the rear for a kitchen and chambers. In con- 
nection with the same, and near the river, was the barn, 
and the yard-room was convenient and ample. In the rear 
of the house was a fine large garden, filled with choice fruits, 
and very excellent gooseberries and currants were raised 
there in abundance, as the writer can testify from experi- 
mental knowledge, having occasionally been invited to visit 
the same by the young sons of Mr. Crocker, with whom he 
Avas a school-mate when a youth. 

The next was a store, occupied by Calvin Woodward, 
with chambers overhead. The next was a house, rather old 
and dilapidated, which stood on the corner of the Westmin- 
ster road, leading to the present depot buildings. This was 
quite a large building, and occupied by a number of fami- 
lies, one of which was John Allen, who was a hatter, and 
at one time, I think, carried on that business, but at this 
time he worked for Elias Fisher, whose shop stood where 
the brass foundry of Mr. Trefethen now stands. Mr. Allen 
had quite a family, and one of his sons became an Orthodox 
minister, and during the rebellion was chaplain of the third 
regiment, from which he returned with impaired health and 
died. Another of his sons, Mr. Otis Allen, is still living, 
and who has been in the employment of Field & Sons near- 
ly or quite all the time since the company was first formed. 
There was also a family by the name of Grossman who oc- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 193 

cupied a part of the building, and, I think, other families 
occasionally. 

The next building was a one-story, house, occupied by Mr. 
W. H. Grossman, who Avas a cabinet maker and worked for 
Messrs. W. & H. Washburn, in their cabinet furniture sho.p 
on Main street. He was the father of "Whistling Billy," 
as he was called, in consequence of his extraordinary abili- 
ty in that department. He was a school-mate and intimate 
friend of the writer from boyhood to manhood. He removed 
to New York and died there. 

The next building was a small shoemaker's shop, owned 
by Ger shorn Holmes, an aged cordwainer, and the father of 
the irrepressible "Harry," the joker, of whom we wrote in 
a previous article. Near this shop was the house owned 
and occupied by the old gentleman. The next was a small 
cottage house, occupied by Mr. Benjamin Spinney ; also a 
shoemaker, having his shop in the village. Mr. Spinney 
had quite a family, and three of his sons followed the shoe- 
making business here for many years. Two of these, Wil- 
liam and John, went into the sale of boots and shoes, doing 
quite an extensive business, near the centre of the buildings 
on Main street. These shops Avere burnt in the great fire. 
John was a little, short-legged felloAv, fond of and full of 
jokes. He was considered a great eater, and always ready 
to maintain that reputation at the engine suppers and other 
convivial occasions. These two removed to Lynn some 
thirty-five years since, and went into the . manufacture of 
boots and shoes. John Baylies, Esq., who resided here at 
the time, and who was a humorist and wit, used to say that 
John Spinney Avould eat more doughnuts at a lunch than 
any other man — that his legs, although short, were also 

25 



194 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

hollow, and that he always filled them up when eating 
doughnuts, and thereby kept on hand a continual supply. 
But John was smart, and when he uncorked his wit, it 
sparkled like champagne from a junk bottle. Mr. William 
Spinney still resides in Lynn, and has long been in the 
wholesale shoe manufacturing business, conducting the same 
in a successful and prosperous manner. 

The next building beyond this was the large two-story, 
wooden dwelling house, still standing, with a brick front 
addition, which was put on after it was sold. This house 
was owoed by a Mr. Stephenson, an elderly gentleman, who, 
at this time, resided in Boston, and was an officer in one of 
the banks thei-e. He subsequently left the bank and came 
here to reside. He was a fine specimen of a gentleman of 
the old school, polite, dignified and courteous in his treat- 
ment of all, and a true exponent of the culture, refinement 
and pleasant manners of those who lived in the days of ruf- 
fled shirts, short breeches, silk stockings, and silver knee 
and shoe buckles. He wrote an exceedingly singular look- 
ing hand, and his signature, in consequence of the tremb- 
ling of his nerves, was hardly intelligible to a stranger. A 
certain wag of that day undertook to get up a subscription 
for a writing school, whereof he stated Mr. Stephenson was 
to be the principal, and Uncle Jesse, who always wrote just 
about the same kind of hieroglyphics, was to be the assist- 
ant. But, not meeting with sufficient patronage, he failed 
to carry out his design. At a later period, this gentleman 
became one of the dignitaries of finance, and thereby had an 
opportunity of exhibiting specimens of his perfection in the 
art which he proposed to teach. But his signature so far 
resembled that of these old orentlemen that a counterfeiter 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 195 

(who is generally an expert,) failed to decipher the same, 
and actually wrote another and entirely different name on 
the bills as president. Perhaps, in these days, it might be 
for the interest of the stockholders if the banks would select 
gentlemen for their officers whose chirography resembled that 
of this gentleman, who proposed to open his writing school 
for the general benefit of the community. But the fact that 
this would-be school-master and professor of the beautiful 
art of Avriting failed to write his signature plain enough for 
a counterfeiter to decipher, shows pretty conclusively the 
necessity of "seeing ourselves as others see us," before we 
undertake to shine in any new departure or department. 
Old Time is a great leveler, and rigidly exacting and im- 
partial, and is sure to ^vork out both his revenges as well 
as his compensations while teaching us his lessons and leav- 
ing his unmistakable imprint on our countenances, shaking 
up our nervous organizations, and reminding all of us sadly 
of the days of auld lang syne, "when our old hats were 
new%" and we drank life's morning dew, fearless of those 
to-morrows which brim the heart with sorrows ; Good-bye 
old Time ; adieu ! We reverently ask of you to see us safely 
through, and meet us in the new with the same old "how do 
you do?" 

The house beyond Mr. Stevenson's was that of M. Rob- 
inson, mentioned previously, and where he resided while in 
business. The next to this was a two-story house, owned 
and occupied by Mr. Charles Phillips, mentioned in a pre- 
vious article, whose shop stood on Court street, opposite the 
old Court House. The next house was a story and a half 
high, standing on the brow of the hill, opposite the locomo- 
tive manufactory. This was occupied as a tenement house 



196 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

by various families, from time to time, and in the basement 
was often held the revival meetings which periodically took 
place among the operatives of the village. These revivals 
generally run out in a few months, and sometimes a part of 
the converts continued to practice what they professed, while 
others fell from grace and came back to the world, which 
they undoubtedly supposed they had left behind them for 
brighter realms. Moody and Sankey, however, have suc- 
ceeded them. 

The house beyond this was occupied by Col. Charles Fos- 
ter, who carried on the hatting business, and occupied a 
shop at the head of Weir street, opposite the Field- block. 
The Colonel was a fine looking officer and an excellent cit- 
izen. The next building was the little red school house, 
where the little folks were instructed by a female teacher in 
the mysteries of the a-b ab sciences. This school the writer 
attended when quite young, and here our good old father 
Pipon occasionally visited us with his pleasant talk and 
smiles, making all happy. The mode of instruction differed 
materially from that of the present day. The children were 
all required to commit the multiplication table to memory, 
and every day, just before they were dismissed, they all 
stood up and commenced repeating twice one are two, and 
so on down to twelve times t^yelve. This song was sung 
by the whole school, great and small, and the mingling of 
the various voices made a most charming and harmonious 
chorus, which could be heard some rods from the school 
house, most conclusively proving that all iuharmony is but 
harmony undeveloped, and that the crudest kind of music, 
under a proper hydraulic pressure, can be squeezed into 
strains that will ravish the finest and most delicate ear of 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 197 

the critic. Some of our meeting house musical committees, 
with silk velvet tympanums, might make a note of this fact, 
and thereby save a considerable sum, and at the same time 
much improve the high, fantastic, scientific exhibitions of 
the divine art now fashionable, and which are also consid- 
ered indispensable, and apparently of much more conse- 
quence than the preaching ! Well, perhaps this state of 
things, under the circumstances, may not be considered very 
strange after all. At the same time, would not a little cot- 
ton wool, placed in the ears of the musical sensitives^ have 
a beneficial effect on the finances of the societies, and the 
preaching also? This is the problem which the owners of 
the depleted wallets and empty pews would do well to solve, 
if possible ; first getting the lives of the sensitives insured. 

There were no other houses on this street until you reach- 
ed that of William Hodges, Esq., some distance beyond on 
the Providence road. Returning on the other side of the 
street, there were no houses until you reached, on the road 
running from the four corners to David and Jonathan's ci- 
der mill, a small cottage occupied by Aunt "Darkess" Pot- 
ter, as she was called. Aunt Darkess sustained an excel- 
lent character and reputation ; she was the best of help in 
household matters — reliable, honest and grateful. She was 
a member of the church for many years. Just beyond this 
house was that of David and Jonathan Reed's, and their re- 
nowned cider mill, which was the only one within consider- 
able distance from the town. The farmers in the vicinity 
kept the mill very busy during the cider-making season, and 
the boys bothered the proprietors considerably during that 
period also. Opposite this house there was a large open 
lot, running down to a grove of splendid trees, on the spot 



198 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

where now stands the fine buildings of Mason & Co. In 
front of this was a swamp of underbrush, and at the lower 
end a pond of water occupied the site of the present Taun- 
ton Locomotive Mfg. Co. In this open area was the base 
ball play ground, and here, on fast days, gathered the boys 
and young men from far and near to enjoy the sport of play- 
ing ball and drinking egg-nog and egg-cider. The games 
of ball were not at that time reduced to a scientific system, 
as they are in these latter days. There were no regular 
clubs with officers, but the parties came together on the 
ground and two persons were named as the leaders to choose 
sides. After ascertaining, by the turn of a cent, who should 
make the first selection or have the first choice, each party 
commenced choosing, until the number required was ob- 
tained. Most of the day was generally spent in playing the 
various games, and then the parties went home — the victors 
exulting in their success on the way. At the north end of 
the swamp lot, in front of this play ground and quite near 
the main road, there was a large pond of water, which 
made capital skating facilities when frozen. There was a 
hill also, bounded by the two roads, the base of which 
reached near the borders of the pond. This made capital 
coasting ground, as the boys could start from the top and 
reach the pond with their sleds. But the pond and the hill 
vanished as the car of improvement and progress moved on, 
and the hill was taken away to fill up the pond, and the 
spot is now occupied by the numerous buildings of the 
Taunton Locomotive Mfg. Co., and the site of the hill is 
now covered with dwelling houses, shops and a meeting- 
house. And now the sound of machinery, the hum of in- 
dustry, the echo of many footsteps, the voices of song and 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 199 

labor, the music of bells, and the prayers and praises of the 
house of worship have succeeded the comparative silence 
and loneliness of the former days. And thus old father 
Time keeps up his never-ceasing changes in the material, 
physical and mental world. 

WEST OF THE GREEN. 

The road leading from the four corners to the West Fac- 
tory and paper mill, and by "toad hill," so called, was 
without any buildings, excepting Mr. John Porter's barn 
and Mrs. Mary Porter's house, for a long time. After a 
while. Cuff Rowland built on the land in the rear of toad 
hill, which was given him by Mr. Sproat, a small house 
and a nail shop, where, in the winter, he used to make 
wrought iron nails. Cuff was a colored man, and noted as 
a fiddler. He was in great demand in the village and in the 
neighboring towns for the winter dances. But Cuff, during 
one of the religious excitements, experienced religion, and 
abandoned the violin. At some distance beyond Cuff's 
house was the dwelling of Uncle Sim. Crossman, who was 
also a fiddler of great renown. Uncle Sim. was at home on 
jigs, square reels, and contra dances. He made fiddling his 
main business, and was in demand from all quarters. 

Still further on the road was the house of Uncle Richard 
Luscomb, who was a travelling tinker, and went from house 
to house, carrying his tools in a kit strapped on his back. 
He made pewter buttons for children's clothes, brass pins of 
formidable size for the housewives, mended the tea-pots, 
tinware, pewter platters, &c., thereby keeping these wares 
in good order, and the lady housekeeper good-natured. The 



200 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

writer has set in the chimney corner with Uncle Richard 
many times, and watched his process of making pins and 
buttons, and doing general repairs, Avith great pleasure. He 
was good-natured, sociable, and pleasant, and quite ingen- 
ious, and always welcomed by the little folks heartily. 
Uncle Richard was the grandfather of Mr. Richard Lus- 
comb, now a resident of New Bedford, who, during the war 
of 1812, made a number of trips in the privateer Yankee, 
which sailed from Bristol, R. I. This craft was very fort- 
unate and successful in taking prizes, and her crew fought 
some bloody battles and brought into port many rich prizes, 
creating much excitement and comment in the papers dur- 
ing the war. I think she was fitted and owned by Mr. De- 
Wolf of Bristol. 

Returning from Uncle Richard's, there was a small, one- 
story house on the opposite side of the road, occupied by 
Prince Harden and his wife, Sara. They were colored 
people. Prince was a common laborer, and quite simple 
and timid. On one occasion, the young men called at 
Prince's house, when out serenading late at night, and tak- 
ing off the tops of their clarionets and arranging their other 
instruments so as to make all the unearthly sounds possible, 
they gathered directly under the window and sounded a 
blast of horrible discord, while one of the party had his ear 
to the window of the chamber in which Prince and his wife 
were sleeping. As soon as the first notes were heard. Prince 
jumped up, crying, "Sara, Sara! The British has come!" 
and made a dive headlong under the bed. Whereupon, Sara 
replied, "Hold your noise, you old scarecrow ; 'tis nothing 
but the band serenading us !" Meantime, the band passed 
on, leaving Prince to get over his scare as best he could. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 201 

Prince had a habit of borrowiog his working utensils, and 
forgetting to return the same. Mr. H. Earl, for whom 
Prince sometimes worked, missed one of his shovels for some 
time, and on meeting Prince with a shovel in his hand, 
which had a familiar look, he asked him where he got it, 
and Prince replied that he bought it. "Ah, yes," said Mr. 
Earl, "but how happens it to have H. E. cut on the handle?" 
"Why," said Prince, ''H. E. is the two first letters of my 
name — they stands for Prince Harden." But, says Mr. 
Earl, "I think they come a little nearer standing for Hil- 
liard Earl, and I guess you have got the wrong shovel, 
Prince." And Prince admitted that it might be "jess possi- 
ble dat he had made a mistake, and took home de wrong 
shubble." 

The next house was a large, two-story building, standing 
away from the road, and called the Cobb house. There was 
no other house, except that of Cuff's, until you reached that 
of Mrs. Mary Porter's, mentioned above, and standing ou 
the site occupied by the brick school house, and opposite the 
hill near the four-corners on Westminster street. 



n 



202 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



ARTICLE XXII. 



UNCLE "si tiffany AND THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE. 

In our last article we had reached the hill fronting the 
woods, at the four-corners on Westminster street. Before 
this hill was taken to fill up the swamp lot, on which now 
stand the buildings of the Taunton Locomotive Co.'s works, 
it had upon its summit a small cottage house, owned and 
occupied by Aunt "Merribee," as she was called, (probably 
the true name was Merrebiah), and Uncle "Si" Tiffany, 
her husband, (whose name was Cyrus), colored persons, 
notable and distinguished among their guild, and generally 
considered indispensable adjuncts and assistants on all ex- 
traordinary occasions, such as family parties, weddings, 
balls, house-cleanings, movings, &c. 

Aunt Merribee's time was fully occupied, and she was in 
constant demand. Uncle Si was, among other things, a 
noted fifer, and was called upon on all military displays, 
trainings, musters, and at balls, where occasionally the ket- 
tle drum made a part of the music in former days. They 
had a daughter who surpassed all others as maid of all 
work. She was the most notable colored lady of the place, 
and without exception considered the best cook and cake 
maker in the town. On all great feasting occasions, Lucin- 
da had first to be secured, in order to make things more 



REMINISCENCES OP TAUNTON. 203 

right and the project successful. She was engaged also to 
make the wedding cake for all the prominent marriage par- 
ties, and her cake was always of the excelsior quality and 
exceedingly toothsome, although it generally smacked pret- 
ty strongly of the contents of the wallet, as well as of the 
rich condiments and spiritual titillation incident to its com- 
position. Lucinda was the best washwoman, and ruffle- 
shirt pleater, and ironer in the place. Consequently she was 
always in demand, and generally engaged far in advance. 
She married a very fine looking colored gentleman, who 
lived in Providence, by the name of Wm. Henry, who was 
the coachman of Mr. Ives. He came home occasionally, 
and was among the most fashionably dressed persons in the 
town, as fine-looking, polite and gentlemanly as the most 
cultivated among us. Uncle Si was a great favorite, and 
popular with everybody ; he was also more than half a hero, 
and highly distinguished on account of having been one of 
the musicians on board of Captain Perry's flag-ship, the 
Lawrence, at the time of the great naval battle on Lake 
Erie, Sept. 10th, 1813. When Perry left the Lawrence, in 
consequence of her damaged condition, and put out in an 
open boat for the Niagara, Old Si was among the number 
in the boat, and played his fife while the boat was passed 
through a hurricane of cannon balls. In order that the 
reader may understand what a pleasant excursion that must 
have been, Ave append an extract from the history of that 
battle : 

"On the morning of the 10th of September, it was an- 
nounced that the British fleet was coming out of Maiden, 
and Perry immediately set sail to meet it. His squadron 
consisted of three brigs, the Lawrence, Niagara and Cale- 



204 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

donia, theTrippe, a sloop, and five schooners, carrying in all 
fifty- four guns. That of the British Avas composed of six 
vessels, mounting sixty-three guns. It was a beautiful 
morning, scarcely a ripple on the waters, as the two squad- 
rons approached each other. With all his canvas out, 
Perry bore steadily down before the wind. The breeze' 
was so light that he scarcely could make two miles an hour. 
The shore was lined with spectators, watching with intense 
anxiety the movements of the American squadron. Perry, 
in the Lawrence, led the line. Taking out the flag, which 
had previously been prepared, and mounting a gun-slide, he 
called the crew about him and said, "My brave lads, this 
flag C9ntains the last words of Captain Lawrence ; shall I 
hoist it?" 'Aye, aye, sir,' was the cheerful response. Up 
went the flag with a will, and as it swayed to the breeze it 
was greeted with loud cheers from the deck. 

• 

•Aye, aye, sir ;' let the banner fly ;' 

Unroll the starry flag once more ; 
'Flaunt its bold motto in the sky, 

While we rub out this English score. 
Run up Old Glory to the blast ; 

There let its sparkling folds appear, 
Fastened securely to the mast, 

'Till victory crowns our squadron here. 
There let it wave above the roar 

Of cannon and the crash of shell, 
While broadsides shake the lake and shore, 

Like rumbling thunder gusts of hell ! 
There let it wave, and rise and swell, 

A prophet in the fateful hour. 
Touching each heart with mystic spell, 

And strengthening with resistless power ! 
There wave, above the smoke and flame. 

While 'don't give up the ship' shall be 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 205 



The watch-word and the wild acclaim, 

Which nerves us on to victory !' 
The captain calls, three cheers my tars ;' 

•Not three, but three times thi-ee,' they cry, 
As upward goes the stripes and stars, 

A guiding beacon light on high. 



As the rest of the squadron beheld that flag, floatiog from 
the mainmast of their commander's vessel, and saw 'don't 
give up the ship' was to be the signal for action, a long, 
loud cheer rolled down the line. Perry then visited every 
gun, having a word of encouragement for each captain. 
Seeing some of the gallant tars who had served on board 
the Constitution, and many of whom now stood with hand- 
kerchiefs tied round their heads, all ready for action, he 
said, 'Well, boys, are you ready?' 'All ready, your honor !' 
was the quick response. 'I need not say anything to you ; 
you know how to beat these fellows,' he added, smilingly, 
as he passed on. The wind was so light that it took an 
hour and a half to reach the hostile squadron. This was 
harder to bear than the battle itself. Every man stood si- 
lently watching the enemy's vessels, leaving requests and 
messages to friends in case they fell. Perry gave his last 
directions, in the event of his death, to Hambleton — tied 
weights to his public papers, in order to have them ready to 
cast overboard, if he should be defeated — read over his 
wife's letters for the last time, and then tore them up, so 
that the enemy should not see those records of the heart, re- 
marking, 'This is the most important day of my life !' 

The silence that had fallen on the ship was at last broken 
by the blast of a bugle that came ringing over the water 
from the Detroit, followed by cheers from the whole British 



206 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

squadron. A single gun, whose shot went skipping past 
the Lawrence, first uttered its stern challenge, and in a feV 
minutes all the long guns of the enemy began to play on the 
American fleet. Being a mile and a half distant, Perry 
could not use his cannonades, and he was exposed to this fire 
for half an hour before he could get within range. Steering 
strait for the Detroit, a vessel a fourth larger than his own, 
he gave orders to have the schooners that lagged behind 
close up within half calbe's length. The light wind having 
nearly died away, the Lawrence suffered severely before she 
could get near enough to open with her cannonades, and she 
had scarcely taken her position before the fire of three ves- 
sels was directed upon her. Enveloped in flame and smoke, 
Perry strove desperately to maintain his grotmd till the rest 
of the fleet could close, and for two hours sustained, with- 
out flinching, this unequal contest." 

The balls crashed incessantly through the sides of the 
ship dismounting the guns and strewing the deck with the 
dead, until, at length, with ''every brace and bow-line shot 
away," she lay an unmanageable wreck on the water. But 
still through the smoke, as it rent before the heavy broad- 
sides, her colors were seen flying, and still gleamed forth in 
the sunlight that glorious motto, "Don't give up the 
ship !" Calm and unmoved by the slaughter around him, 
and his own desperate position, Perry gave his orders tran- 
quilly. Although in his first battle and unaccustomed to 
scenes of carnage, his face gave no token of the motion that 
mastered him. Advancing to assist a sailor, whose gun had 
got out of order, he saw the poor fellow struck from his 
side by a twenty-four pound shot, and expire without a 
eroan. His second lieutenant fell at his feet. Lieutenant 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 207 

Brooks, a gay, dashing officer, while speaking cheerfully to 
him, was clashed by a cannon ball to the other side of the 
deck, and mangled in the most frightful manner. He im- 
plored Perry to kill him and end his misery. 

Lieutenant Yarnall, with a red handkerchief tied round 
his head and another round his neck, to staunch the blood 
flowing from two wounds, his nose swelled to a monstrous 
size from a splinter having passed through it, disfigured and 
covered with gore, moved amid this terrific scene the very 
genius of havoc and carnage. Approaching Perry, he told 
him every officer in his division was killed. Others were 
given him, but he soon returned with the same dismal tid- 
ings. Perry then told him be must get along by himself, as 
he had no more to furnish him, and the gallant man went 
back to his guns. Once only did the shadow of any emo- 
tion pass over the countenance of this intrepid commander. 
He had a brother on board, only twelve years old. The 
little fellow, who had had two balls pass through his hat 
and been struck with splinters, was still standing by the 
side of his brother, stunned by the awful cannonading and 
carnage around him, when he suddenly tell. For a moment 
Perry thought he too was gone, but he had only been knock- 
ed down by a hammock, which a cannon ball had hurled 
against him. At length every gun was dismounted but one ; 
still Perry fought with that till, at last, it also was knocked 
from the carriage. Out of the one hundred men with whom, 
a few hours before he had gone into battle, only eighteen 
stood up unwounded. Looking through the smoke, he saw 
the Niagara, apparently uncrippled, drifting out of the bat- 
tle. Leaping into a boat with his young brother, he 
said to his remaining officer, "If a victory is to be gained. 



208 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

I will gain it," and, standing erect, told the sailors to give 
way with a will. The enemy observed the movement, and 
immediately directed their fire upon the boat. Oars were 
splintered in the rowers' hands by musket balls, and the men 
themselves covered -wfith spray .from the round shot and 
grape that smote the water on every side. Passing swiftly 
through the iron storm, he reached the Niagara in safety, 
and as the survivors of the Lawrence saw him go up the 
vessel's side, they gave a hearty cheer. Perry backed his 
maintopsail and flung out his signal for close action. From 
vessel to vessel the answering signals went up in the sun- 
light, and three cheers rang over the water. He then gave 
his sails to the wind, and bore steadily down on the centre 
of the enemy's line. Reserving his fire as he advanced, he 
passed alone through the hostile fleet within close pistol 
range, wrapt in flames as he swept on. Delivering his 
broadsides right and left, he spread horror and death through 
the decks of the Detroit and Lady Prevost. Rounding to, 
as he passed the line, he laid bis vessel close to two of the 
enemy's ship's, and poured in his rapid fire. 

The shrieks that rang out from the Detroit were heard 
even above the deafening cannonade, while the crew of the 
Lady Prevost, unable to stand the fire, ran below, leaving 
their wounded, stunned and bewildered commander alone on 
deck, gazing vacantly on the passing ship. The other 
American vessels having come up, the action at once became 
general. To the spectators from the shore, the scene at this 
moment was indescribably thrilling. Far out on the calm 
water lay a white cloud, from out whose tortured bosom 
broke incessant flashes and thuoder claps, — the loud echoes 
rolling heavily away over the deep, and dying amid the si- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 209 

lence and solitude of the forest. An action so close could 
not last long, and it was soon apparent that victory inclined 
to the Americans, for while the enemy's fire sensibly slack- 
ened, the signal for close action was still flying from the 
Niagara, and from every American vessel the answering 
signal floated proudly in the wind. In fifteen minutes from 
the time the first signal was made, the battle was over. A 
white handkerchief waved from the taifrail of the Queen 
Charlotte announced the surrender. The firing ceased ; the 
smoke slowly cleared away, revealing the two fleets com- 
mingled, shattered and torn, and strewed with the dead. 
The loss on each side was 135 killed and wounded. 

Perry, having secured the prisoners, returned to the Law- 
rence, lying a wreck in the distance, whither she had help- 
lessly drifted. She had struck her flag before he closed with 
the Niagara, but it was now flying again. Not a word was 
spoken as he went over the vessel's side ; a silent grasp of 
the hand was the only sign of recognition, for the deck 
around was covered with dismembered limbs, and brains, 
while the bodies of 20 officers and men lay in ghastly groups 
before him. 

It will be clearly seen that ''Old Si" after participating 
in such a battle as this was fairly entitled to be called not 
only "half, but a whole hero." 

The news of this glorious battle sent a thrill of joy 
throughout the nation. Meetings of congratulation were 
called in the large cities. Votes of thanks, and complimen- 
tary resolutions were passed, and the hero's name emblazon- 
ed the stars and stripes, and his fame was upon all lips. On 
his return, grand ovations were paid him wherever he went, 
and the sneers and adverse criticism of political party preju- 

27 



210 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

dice received a severe check amid the public rejoicings 
throughout the country. 



With riddled sails and shattered spars, 

A drifting wreck the Lawrence lay, 
Still holding fast the stripes and stars. 

With brace and bowline shot away. 
Her decks a mass of blood and brains, 

A sickening scene of ghastly gore, 
The headless trunl^s and torn remains 

Of those who fell to rise no more. 

With every gun upon her deck 

Dismounted or disabled there. 
Alone she floats, a helpless wreck. 

The home of suffering and despair ! 
One hundred men made up her crew, 

A brave and loyal patriot band. 
Each heart its inspiration drew 

From hope and freedom's hallowed land. 

Alas ! from all this glorious crew 

But fifteen men could stand erect. 
As Perry's heroes, tried and true. 

Of freedom's corps his own elect ! 
Before him, on the decks, were laid 

Full many a comrade, nobly brave. 
Whose final prayer must now be said. 

Ere each shall reach a watery grave. 

They turn on him their glazing eyes, 

While struggling with their failing breath, 
Breathing sad farewells in their sighs, 

While waiting on the verge of death ! 
One last, long, lingering look he casts. 

Then calls his men to man his boat, 
With neither cordage, sails nor masts. 

They cast her on the lake to float. 

Through hurricanes of shot and shell, 

His little craft dashed high the spray ; 
While broadsides booming round her fell. 

She fearlessly swept on her way ! 
Until, at last, through fire and smoke. 

She reached the Niagara's side ; 
Then Perry, their commander, spoke. 

And hailed her as he would his bride ! 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 211 



Her quarter-deck once reached, he then 

Gave out his orders trumpet toned ; 
And round him gathered all her men, 

Within whose heart he was inurned ! 
While o'er the waters, far away. 

The Lawrence riddled through and through, 
Was doomed a crippled craft to lay ; 

But from her decks the wounded crew 

Sent up their three times three of cheers, 

As Perry's form once more appeared ; 
And thus, amid their smiles and tears, ^ 

The gallant hero long was cheered ; 
As from their bloody, lonely wreck 

They saw their captain rise once more 
Upon his throne, the quarter-deck, 

Amid the battle's earthquake roar. 

There, proudly waving in the skies, 

A cynosure, by which to win. 
They saw his signal promptly rise, 

For closer action to begin . 
They saw maintopsails fall aback. 

As the whole squadron veers and steers 
Directly for the battle track. 

Amid resounding shouts and cheers. 

Within close range, wrapt in hot flames, 

The hostile squadron madly meet. 
Where brave men win heroic names, 

And brave men also meet defeat. 
There, hull to hull, the vessels pour 

The thundering broadsides deadly fire, 
Amid the deafening crash and roar 

Of shot and flames, and carnage dire. 

While o'er the gory decks, full blast, 

Death pours his crimson running tides. 
Around the brain-stained splintered mast, 

And through the scuppers' shattered sides. 
But brief, though deadly, is the fray, 

Full soon the battle's shock is o'er. 
And England's flag, struck down that day. 

Shall rise in triumph there no more ! 



212 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



ARTICLE XXIIl 



THE TOAD HILL REGION. 

Our last article left us at Aunt Merribee's and Uncle Si 
Tiffany's house on the the hill, nearly opposite the Cohan- 
net Grammar School House. On this site, at the time of 
which we write, stood the large, two-story house then occu- 
pied by Mrs. Mary Porter, and now removed to Weir 
street. The grounds run down to the roads in front and on 
one side of the house, and were bounded by land owned by 
James Sproat, Esq,, on the other side, and by Toad hill, a 
classical elevation in the rear. This hill, although celebrat- 
ed in song and story for its huckleberries and strawberries, 
as well as for its poetical inspirations, has vanished before 
the rolling car of Progress, and its site is now covered by 
the dwellings of the living, instead of the rocks and gravel 
of the past. In those days, the price of gravel was six cents 
per load, and the accounts for the same were rendered by 
the parties who carted it away. This gave an opportunity 
to all persons in want to obtain a supply pretty cheap, as 
well as a fair chance to test their honesty. How long Toad 
hill, under this arrangement, would have lasted if it had 
been located in Washington during the last four years, is a 
problem for the mathematicians to solve. In the centre of 
the four-corners was a well, for the accommodation of the 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 213 

public and the residents in this locality. The buildings on 
the east side of the road leading from the old grist mill were 
first the remains of an old fulling mill, the upper part of 
which was made into a dwelling of cli^eap description, and 
occupied by those of small means. 

The next building was that which still remains there, 
having been altered and enlarged, and which, at a later day, 
was occupied by John Baylies, Esq., for a time, while he 
resided in Taunton The next was the large two-story 
dwelling house standing opposite the Winslow church, which 
was built by Leonard Grossman, a son of Colonel Cross- 
man. In the basement of this house resided ''old Tom 
Fisher" and his wife. Jinny. Jinny was celebrated for some 
peculiar idiosyncrasies. Tom was another notable colored 
person, he having served as the body-servant of General 
Washington in the revolutionary war. Of course, Tom was 
a dignitary among his race, and considered by the boys as a 
hero of the first water, and his stories of battles and hair 
breadth escapes were listened to with great delight by the 
juveniles generally. This house was subsequently purchas- 
ed by Mr. F. A. M. Carver, the superintendent of the old 
Taunton cotton mill, and occupied by him for some years. 

The next was the old homestead of Col. Crossman, which 
still remains, very little changed in its appearance. The 
Colonel, in his younger days, kept a tavern here, and, on 
one occasion, the celebrated Col. Church, the Indian war- 
rior, stopped here, while on his way to Boston, over night, 
which was a notable event, creating quite an excitement in 
the village. There was, just beyond this house, a store, oc- 
cupied by Leonard Crossman and his brother, which was 
built and kept by them for the sale of W. I. goods, &c. 



214 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

This store was afterwards moved to the Green, and placed 
on the grounds of the Tauntou hotel, and made into a bar- 
room and office, in connection with the hotel. The next was 
a shop, and the small house now standing on the corner of 
the road leading past the Episcopal Church. The shop was 
removed many years since. The house was occupied by 
Mr. John Padelford, who was a wheelwright, and the father 
of Ex-Gov. Seth Padelford, now a resident of Providence, 
and for a number of years Governor of Rhode Island. On 
the opposite side of the road near the land of James Sproat, 
Esq., stood a small cottage house, which was occupied by 
Mr. John Porter, after his marriage. The next was the 
large house of Mr. Sproat, still standing on the same site. 
In the rear of this house was the famous Toad hill, and be- 
yond, following the base of the hill until you reach the pres- 
ent site of Mrs. Davenport's residence, there was a fine pond 
of water, which, in the winter, afforded fine skating, and 
was known by all the boys as Sproat's pond. The present 
road laid out in front of this house and others, and called 
the Providence turnpike road, was not then built. 

Mrs. Sproat, the wife of Jas. Sproat, Esq., was a cultiva- 
ted and intellectual lady, a refined, conscientious, disinter- 
ested and sympathetic Christian, with a heart ever open and 
responsive to all charitable objects and appeals. She was 
quite celebrated as a writer of both poetry and prose. She 
composed a series of family lectures, which were read week- 
ly to her children. These lectures were filled with excellent 
moral lessons and suggestions, and although not extensively 
circulated, having been prepared for her own family, were 
very popular in the town and the immediate vicinity after 
their publication. She wrote many occasional articles of 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 215 

poetry, addressed to her persoual friends, and many fugitive 
pieces on the various subjects and themes suggested by the 
Muse. In some manner, her reputation found its way to 
New York, and reached the publishing house of Samuel 
Wood & Sons, then a well established house in the city, 
publishing, among other works, those particularly adapted 
for the young reader. In consequence of this, one of the 
firm visited this place and had an interview with Mrs. 
Sproat in reference to the publication of a collection of these 
fugitive poems. The arrangement was made, and a little 
book of some seventy pages, containing a selection of the 
poems, was published and had quite an extensive sale. This 
collection was entitled ''Village Poems, by Mrs. N. Sproat," 
and she was thus introduced to the public as an authoress. 
Subsequently, her Family Lectures were also published, but 
both of these works are now out of print. As specimens of 
her composition, we append the following pieces : 

THE BRIGHT WINTER MORNING. 

Cold was the angry storm, 

And covered thick the ground, 
And seizing fast the naked boughs, 

Encrusted them around. 

Imprisoned were the trees, 

Which waved o'er hill and field, 
And through the livelong night they stood, 

In icy bondage held. 

When, lo, the mourning sun, 

All glorious to behold, 
Burst from the curtains of the east, 

In floods of beamy gold. 



216 BEMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

O'er nature's morning face 

A pearly shower he throws ; 
She quaffs the lucid draught, and straight 

With dazzling beauty glows. 

How splendid is the scene 

To man's astonished sight ! 
When every bough of every tree 

Is gemmed with globes of light. 

Even the low bush, that grew 

Close by the streamlet's side, 
NoAv decked with sparkling diamonds, laughs 

At the gay sons of pride. 

Does not the eye of faith 

A sweet resemblance trace, 
Between these bright displays of skill 

And the rich works of grace ? 

When the sin-harden'd soul, 

Enwrapp'd in darkness lies, 
Thus does the life-restoring "Son 

Of Righteousness arise " 

On the cold heart he sheds 

A beam of love divine. 
And round the heaven-illumined saint 

Ten thousand graces shine. 

But, while the change is viewed 

With deep admiring gaze, 
Own, Christian, all thy emptiness. 

And give thy God the praise. 



THE MORNING STAR. 

Fair star of day, I sing thy charms, 
Thou glory of the morning sky, 

For often has thy gladdening ray 
Beamed sweetly on my gazing eye. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 217 

When by the bed of sickness placed, 

By the pale taper's feeble light, 
When not a sound is heard to break 

The long, lone watches of the night. 

Save now and then a broken groan. 

Breathed from the restless couch of pain, 
Half breathed, as though the sufferer checked 

His heart, and felt that groans were vain. 

While thus the periods of the night 

Roll sad and heavily away, 
How often turns the wakeful eye 

To meet the first approach of day ! 

Oh, then, how pleasant to behold, 

From the dark verge that bounds the sky, 
The herald of the morning rise, 

And Aving its cheering flight on high. 

But shall I sing of lesser orbs, 

And foil to celebrate His birth, 
Whose soul rcAiving beams diffuse 

Salvation o'er the ruined earth ? 

When a lost, miserable world. 

Sin-sick, death-struck, in darkness lay. 
Then Jesus didst thou pour abroad 

The splendors of eternal day. 

Awake, my hai^p, the sweetest strains, 

The glories of his name rehearse. 
The light of Heaven, the light of men, 

The day star of the universe ! 



SOUTH OF THE GREEN. 

The land on the south side from Mr. Sproat's line run in 
one unbroken lot to the old street, now called Bow street, 
leading to the Weir, in rear of the direct road from the 
Green, now known as High street. This large area was 

28 



218 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

owned by the Wetlierby family and Judge Fales, divided by 
a fence, giving, perhaps, two-thirds to the Judge and one- 
third to Mr. Wetherby. Both lots, thus divided, were in a 
high state of cultivation, and produced a large amount of 
hay. The land extended south to the road now called Bar- 
num street. In the rear of the Judge's lot, bordering this 
street, there was a fine orchard, producing a large quantity 
of the greening apples, which were of the best kind and 
quality. On this street, in the rear of the cemetery ground, 
now called Barnum street, stood the ancient, quaint-appear- 
ing poor house, with its queer-looking roof and dormitories. 
Here the poor of the town found a resting place, until their 
increase was such as to render the accommodations insuffi- 
cient for their wants. After many years the present poor 
house and farm were purchased. • On the opposite side of 
the street, farther on, was the old Cobb house and farm. 
This old house has since been destroyed, and the farm cut 
up into house lots. 

The hill in rear of the Wetherby lot, known as Strawber- 
ry hill, produced the finest and most delicious wild straw- 
berries in profuse abundance. The cultivation of this fruit 
was then unknov^n here, but in the season of its maturity 
the children gathered ample quantities for domestic consump- 
tion. These lots and the cow pastures also produced in 
abundance the barberry bush and barberries. These berries 
were largely used then for a fall preserve, but the bushes 
which grew so profusely have become, in this region, near- 
ly extinct, and the fruit has to be purchased for purposes of 
preserving. And the apple, peach and plum orchards of the 
former days have, like the true and simple worship which 
we then enjoyed, passed away, and are numbered among 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 219 

the things known now no more. Kettle drums, French 
horns, trumpets, quartettes and solo singers, with salaries 
larger than those of the ministers of former times were 
paid, are now the order of the day, and generally in the as- 
cendant. Too much of the present preaching (it is feared) 
is based on the mighty dollar science, and golden ladders, 
Avh ere with to reach Heaven, and to a great extent backed 
up, sustained and made tolerable to fashionable worshippers 
by magnificent meeting houses (mortgaged) and ornamented 
to death outside ; while the inside is made attractive with 
richly upholstered sleeping pews, and also by the theatrical 
performances in the singing galleries, where, instead of the 
sacred music of auld lang syne, we are regaled with the 
scientific, operatic squealing of modern days, to touch the 
heart, quicken the religious emotions, and to pave the way 
upward and onward — not to mention the gymnastic perform- 
ances of the dancing Dervises who sometimes grace the sa- 
cred pulpits with grandiloquent exhibitions of oratory and 
patent eloquence to charm and fascioate the hearers. Qui 
copit illefacit. 

The road leading by the lots referred to, on the south and 
those bounded by the river on the north, was then known as 
the back road, and connected with Street's bridge road and 
''crooked lane," where it turns into Bow street. There was 
but one house on the north side, which was the parsonage 
of the First Congregational Society, and was occupied by 
that liberal-hearted and genuine old saint, Parson Pipon, so 
frequently mentioned in many of the preceding articles. 
Here he lived for many years in a quiet, simple, unostenta- 
tious manner, with his doors always wide open for the hos- 
pitable reception of friends or strangers, and his heart al- 



220 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

ways responsive to the demands of charity. He never meas- 
ured tlie amounts he should give, but emptied his pockets of 
all they contained when called upon to help the suffering and 
needy. He did not deplete the wallets of his hearers in dis- 
tributing his personal charities ! His motto was, Virtutis 
fortuna comes, (Fortune is the companion of virtue). The 
mighty dollar was not the principal god that he worshipped. 
His library was in his study, and his books were scattered 
about without much regard to alphabetical arrangement or 
order. Every person wanting them borrowed without stint, 
and he rarely knew who had them, or where they were to 
be found. If you called to return a volume and to get anoth- 
er, it was always uncertain whether it was to be found in 
his library. He scattered them among his people, broad- 
cast, and waited patiently for their return, and doubtless in 
many cases waited in vain. He was dearly beloved by the 
children and the younger portion of the community. Wher- 
ever he was met, his pleasant words and happy smile won 
their hearts at once. The young felt none of that fear or 
restraint which ordinarily makes them speechless in the 
presence of those lofty, straight-backed, egotistical dignita- 
ries whose assumption, pomposity and pride is so disagree- 
able and repulsive. The old minister's smiles, and cordial 
words of cheer, and salutation to the children, banished 
from their hearts at once all fear and restraint, and they 
were at home always in his presence, which was a benedic- 
tion to both old and young. 

The road running in front of Dr. Hayward's house and 
connecting with this back road was then the only direct pas- 
sage way to the Green or City Square, through Jocky lane, 
so called. This road was in such bad condition, especially 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 221 

over the hill, that the passing from the Green was mainly 
over the Westminister road, which intersected the back road 
at the four corners in that vicinity. 

The next house, nearly opposite this road over the hill, in 
front of Mr. Pipon's house, was that of CorporalJohn Neal, 
a tall, straight, erect and military model of the time. It 
was a small, one-story building. Corporal Neal worked for 
Judge Fales for many years, and his house stood upon the 
Judge's lot, and was the only building beyond Mr. Pipon's 
house, Avith the exception of the Aunt Mercy Grossman 
house, still standing on Bow street, and a small cottage 
house just beyond the railroad cut on Grooked Lane. The 
land on the river side, and also on the opposite side, was 
used for mowing and pasturing purposes. But old Grooked 
Lane was then, and for many years subsequently, celebrated 
as the most popular trysting ground andlocality in the town. 
Here the young men and maidens wandered in the moon- 
light evenings, realizing the sweets of their unspeakably 
happy personal condition, and dreaming sweeter dreams of 
the future. 

Here lovers by the old fence leaned, 

In summer evenings SAjeet, 
While shifting shadows dimly screened 

Their sylvan, still retreat. 

He gazed upon the sparkling stream, 

That glided l)y their feet. 
Beneath the stars' translucent gleam, 

In this secluded street. 

Here listened, as upon the ear 

Came floating up the hill, 
Soft notes from gurgling waters near. 

As sweet as music's thrill. 



222 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



Here Cupid held his courts and seat, 

And planned his matches too ; 
All lovers came, vows to repeat,— 

Young lovers came to woo. 

These, in a mystic, dreamy state, 

Came very often here, 
To learn the destiny which Fate 

Might whisper in their ear. 

And as they wandered on through life, 

Sweet memories have inurned. 
With youth's magnetic pictures rife, 

In beauty's light returned. 

The vows which long ago were spoken 

Were here renewed again. 
And pledges sacred and unbroken 

Formed true love's golden chain. 

While castles, decked with fadeless flowers. 

Enchanted still their eyes. 
As passed once more those trysting hours. 

Beneath those summer skies. 

When not a shadow dimmed life's way. 

When all was fair and bright. 
And joy crowned every passing day 

With rainbow wreaths of light. 

Thus, thus, once more, the days of yore 

To such came floating back, 
While Hope her golden banner bore 

Adown life's morning track. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 223 



ARTICLE XXIV 



OLD CROOKED LANK. 

Our last article brought us to the Old Crooked Lane ^ long 
knowu aud celebrated as the lovers' trysting ground in the 
days of auld lang syne. The following lines written and 
dedicated to that locality in the days of long ago, it would 
seem might appropriately make a part of the notice touching 
the same in our last article. Accordingly we append the 

LINES TO THE OLD CROOKED LANE. 

Ye moss grown rails, ye venerable posts, 

Whose shadows, in the dimness of the night, 
Oft have I started at, as from a ghost's, 

And shivered, for a moment, with affiright! 
When wandering by ye eve's stilly hour, 

With one whose heai't responsive beat to mine, 
Gazing upon the stars, the dew-bent flower. 

And thinking earth a paradise divine !— 
I hail ye once again ! but nevermore 

Can ye return the glorious days of yore ! 

Long buried thoughts are stirred within my breast, 
"Old Lane," by thee, — like visions they arise ! — 

Change is upon me, changeless is thy 'rest. 
And thy old fence the power of time defies : 

But time with me hath broken those sweet dreams, 
Which twined love's immortelles around my heart ; 



224 BEMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



And life a stera reality now seems, 

Robbed of the joys which earlier hours impart. — 
Thou callest up before me moments sweet, 

When my young heart with youthful rapture beat ! 

Still, still, "Old Crooked Lane," thou art the same, 

Save that the moss hath deepened on thy rails ; 
And thy old posts, not quite so firm remain — 

Having bowed down before the rushing gales. 
Monuments hoary! memorials of the past! — 

Here, we renew those trysting hours of old ! 
Here, where the golden moments tied so fast ! 

Here, where the sweetest scenes again unfold. 
Amid the star-light, silence, and the shade. 

The lovers' sacred vows once more are made. 

'Tis well that ye are dumb — better than well. 

Ye cannot tell the secrets of the past; 
Such revelation might revive the spell 

Which fate's dark horoscope around us cast ! 
Adieu, "Old Crooked Lane !" a last farewell ! 

The gray hairs now, like threads of silver light, 
Are stealing through my sable locks to tell 

That time has touched them in his onward flight. 
Strange feelings thrill the weary heart, "Old Lane," 

While gazing on thee in life's evening wane. 

Mournfully I cast my lingering thoughts behind, 

To days when youthful vigor nerved my hand. 
As by the fence I listened to the wind 

Of summer's eve, and dreampt of fair}'' land. 
The retrospect, like autumn to the leaves. 

Tinges them all with sad, or lovely hues. 
As memory culls, and in sweet garlands weaves, 

Fresh with the beauty of life's morning dews. 
Those magic wreaths, which, in my earlier hours. 

Scattered the fragrance of their fading flowers. 

Mirrored once more, by memory's magic glass, 
In mingling tints of varying light and shade, 

The day-dreams of our youth arise and pass. 
As when hope's aureola round them played. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 225 

Thrilling the heart, as in the days of yore, 

"When fancy's pencil dipt in rays all bright, 
Pictured the future, as it is no more ! 

Undimm'd and beautiful, as heaven's own light ! 
And filled with love's sweet images the mind, 

As Cupid's fingers in our locks were twined ! 

Good-by, "Old Crooked Lane !" adieu once more ! 

Sad are the memories thy scenes inspire ! — 
And, as we gaze on life's receding shore. 

Our hearts are touched, as is the broken lyre, 
Whose strings are swept within forsaken halls 

By the cold night winds, desolate and drear ; 
"Waking weird echoes in the crumbling walls — 

Dimming the eyes with love's memorial tear, 
As once again Ave press the proffered hands 

Of the lost loved ones in the happier lands ! 

Such was the impromptu tributary lay. 

Inscribed in days gone by to thee, "Old Lane !" 
Since then full three decades have passed awaf ; 

And still, Ave faltering, tread life's evening wane — 
While those who shared youth's sAA-eeter, happier hours, 

The young, fresh-hearted, full of hope and cheer, 
"Wreathed in life's morning smiles and summer flowers, 

HaA'^e long since left us lonely AA-anderers here ; 
Waiting the inevitable hour to come. 

And bear us also to the happier home ! 

Here, may we trustingly Avatcli on, and wait; 

Counting life's AA-asting sands, as still they run, 
Bearing us ouAvard to the happier state; 

As sloAvly sinks life's dim declining sun !— 
Here, as the closing twilight, day by day. 

Grows faint, and fainter, to the A\istful eye ; 
And swifter seem the hours to pass aAvay ;— 

May hope's eternal star still beam on high ! 
Guiding us onward to the immortal shore. 

Where death and sorrow shall be known no more ! 



29 



226 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

At the Crooked lane, where it intersects the road leading 
from the Neck of Land road to the Weir, just to the left 
hand corner stood the ancient house of William Seaver, who 
for many years was one of the selectmen of the to"wn. This 
was occupied by his father before him for many years, who 
carried on the stone ware manufacturing business. He ob- 
tained his clay from the Gay -Head Indians, who brought 
it in their frail and sharp pointed canoes to the landing- 
place near the works. To look atone of these canoes it 
would seem impossible that they could be safely moved such 
a distance, even if the ocean was in a placid condition. But 
I have no recollection of any accidents or disasters having 
happened. These Indians used to stop here a number of 
days after unloading their clay, making purchases of the 
necessaries of life, with such trinkets as charmed their eyes ; 
and also securing liberal supplies of the "fire waters," of 
which, like the white man, they were only too fond. They 
attracted the special attention of the boys, who followed them 
with great curiosity through the streets while they remained 
here. The houses on this street, as you approached the 
Weir, were first that of Mr. John Seaver, standing on the 
river side, occupied now by the house of Christopher Hack, 
Esq. The old house was removed and still stands on a lot 
just beyond its former site. The next was that of Harry 
Carv.er, and was a small ouB-story building on the opposite 
side. This house still remains there. The next, on the 
same side of the road, was a similar building, the occupants 
of which I do not recollect. And the next, on the opposite 
side of the street, was the two-story house and store of Capt. 
Abiathar Williams, both of which are still remaining there. 
In later years Capt. Benjamin Ingell built the house on the 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 227 

west side of the road, now occupied by Capt. P^ish, a re- 
tired sea captain and millionaire, who removed from New 
Bedford to this place some years since to enjoy his otium 
cum dignitate, and at the same time to give our people many 
interesting revelations touching the capture of whales and 
the dangers of the sea. Capt. Benj. Ingell, who built and 
originally occupied this house, was a thriving, busy, ener- 
getic business man, engaged in the coasting trade, and also 
in manufacturing business. He was quite successful in his 
business operations, in various branches, but his health fail- 
ed and he died a comparatively young man. 

The next, and the last, were the large mansion and store 
of Captain Jonathan Ingell, on the river-side of the street. 
The house is still there and is now owned by Lebaron B. 
Church, Esq. The store has been removed. 

This brings us to the Weir, and the head of navigation. 

WEIR BRIDGE. 

On the west side of the street, a few rods beyond the 
house of Mr. Church, nearly opposite Staples & Phillips' 
store, and on the site of the dwelling house formerly owned 
by Capt. John O. Presbrey, stood an old two-story house, 
owned by Major Seth Williams and occupied as a dwelling 
liouse and store. 

At that time there was no road leading as now, directly 
to the Green. The back roads were then the only channels 
of communication between the two places. On the cross 
street, running into the Dighton road, was a barn, owned 
by Major Williams. The next house on the main street, 
leading to the bridge, was owned also by Major Williams. 



228 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

The next was the dwelling house of Nathan Ingell, Esq. 
The next building was a barn, where Joseph Briggs' house 
now stands. The next, a small house, where the Furnace 
yard now is. There was a small dwelling house where the 
Eddy Furnace now stands. The furnace yard made a part 
of the premises now owned and occupied by the Pha3nix 
Mfg. Co. These buildings were erected and used as a dis- 
tillery during the war of 1812, and the stock was owned by 
the prominent and wealthy persons at the Green and at the 
Weir, and elsewhere. Liquors were drank pretty freely in 
those days, and the embargo and the war had increased the 
price about four fold. Drinks at the hotels were raised in 
price to 122 cents, nearly equal to the terms during the Re- 
bellion. Accordingly it was decided to manufacture a little 
of the ardent here. The company built a large store house 
opposite the distillery for their grain and their gin. This 
store is still standing upon the wharf, and has been occupied 
by various parties as a wholesale flour and grain store. The 
distillery was run to its full capacity, and turned out the gin 
pretty freely. Many families were supplied by the article, 
and sales in large quantities were made promptly, and the 
business paid until the war ceased. In connection with the 
distillery was an extensive piggery, and large quantities of 
hogs were fatted on the swill, and sold readily. The next 
building beyond the furnace lot was the Col. Dean house, 
which is still standing. These were all the buildings on the 
west side of the river at that time. 

On the east side of the river, next to the bridge, was a 
small house and store ; the house was owned by John Pres- 
brey and the store and goods were owned by Messrs. Wil- 
liam, Seth and John Presbrey, who supplied the wants of 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 229 

that vicinity with such goods as were Deeded. The next 
was a house owned by Joseph Hood, now the Rhodes' tav- 
ern, so called. The next was an ancient structure, occupy- 
ing the site of Barney Presbrey's house. There was no 
other building on that side of the street until the four-corners 
were reached, where a small house stood, opposite the Au- 
rulas Padelford place. Returning on the south side, the first 
buildings were two houses owned by Capt. Vickery and oc- 
cupied by himself and Capt. John Shaw. The next was 
the house of Benjamin Williams, Esq. The next was an 
old tw^o-story house, the site of which is now occupied by 
the brick house built by Capt. Frank Williams. The next 
house was that of Benj. Landon Hood, opposite the Little- 
field house. The next was a small house, owned by Capt. 
Wm. Cooper, and the next and the last was the house of 
Capt. James Cooper. 

These w^ere all the buildings, with the exception of two 
small houses on the wdiarves, w^hich composed Weir Village 
some sixty years ago. There was an old wharf where the 
Joseph Dean store now stands, and on the east side there 
was about 150 feet of wharf. At the present time there is 
some 6000 feet of wharf, (more or less), and both sides of 
the river ar« covered with spacious stores and manufacturing 
buildings. 

The vessels owned at the Weir at this time were twelve 
in number. Their names, tonnage, masters and owners were 
as follows : 

Sloop Sally, 41 tons, Benj. Cooper master; owned by himself, his fath- 
er, Josiah Dean and George Williams. 

Sloop Hannah, 40 tons, Abiathar Ingell master; owners, Abiathar 
and Jona. Ingell and David Carver. 



230 RE3nNISGENCES OF TAUNTON. 

Sloop Union, 30 tons, Sylvester Jones master; owners, himself, Jona. 
Ingell and Grinfill Blake. 

Sloop Ranger, 30 tons, Wm. Presbrey master; owners, himself, Seth 
and John Presbrey and Samuel Leonard. 

Schooner Peace and Plenty, 28 tons, Seth Presbrey master ; owners, 
himself, Wm. and John Presbrey and George and Jona.' Macomber. 

Sloop Industry, 28 tons, Perez Hall master; owners, himself, his fath- 
er and others. 

Sloop Defiance, 32 tons, Simeon Burt master ; owners, himself and 
brothers, and Stephen and Edmund Burt. 

Sloop Law Book, 30 tons, Benjamin Stevens master; owners, Samuel 
Stephens and others. 

Sloop Sally, 28 tons, Jacob Phillips master; OAvners, himself, Elijah 
Williams and James Hart. 

Sloop Harmony, 30 tons, David Padelford master; owned by himself 
and brothers. 

Sloop Hannah, 28 tons, David Vickery master; owners, himself and 
Samuel Leonard. 

Sloop Abby, 25 tons, John Shaw master; owners, himself and Samuel 
Leonard. 

This list comprises all the vessels owned at this time at 
the Weir, the asirregate tonnao^e of these vessels beinfj about 
380 toDS. These craft, which were as large as could navi- 
gate the river at this time, generally made eight or ten 
trips to New York and about twenty to Providence during 
the season. Within a few years the Government has ap- 
propriated $20,000 for the purpose of clearing the obstruc- 
tions and deepening the water, and now vessels of heavy 
tonnage can navigate the river. A large amount of tonnage 
is now owned by the enterprising merchants and manufac- 
turers of the city, and the river is filled with schooners and 
sloops varying from forty tons to five hundred and sixty-two 
tons. 

Through the politeness of Capt. Barney Presbrey, who 
formerly ploughed the troubled deep between Taunton River 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 231 

and New York, although not exactly one of ''ye ancient 
mariners," we have been favored with the following list of 
barges, steamers and sailing craft now owned at the Weir : 

Tons. 

Steamer Cora L. Staples, 90 

•' Herbert, 28 

•' T. Brierly, 20 

" Luke Hoyt, 12 

Barge Saturnalia, 437 

" Transport. 507 

*' Pioneer, 303 

" Advance, 208 

" Star of the East, 365 

Schooner Florence Dean, 562 

" Theodore Dean, 349 

*' W. F. Green, 224 

" Alfred Brabrook, 560 

" C. P. Harris, 465 

" Oliver Ames, 456 

" M. M. Merriman, 145 

" Sylvester Hale, 125 

" J. Lozier, 62 

" S. W. Ponder, 104 

" Whistler, 58 

" J. P. Ross, 106 

" Salmon Washburn, 89 

«' S. T. Charter, 122 

" Emma, 60 

" R.S.Dean, 136 

" H. A. Paull, 407 

" Hasten, 600 

" William D. Marvel, 454 

" John E. Sanford, 425 

" Belle Halliday, 355 

" S. Morgan, 259 

" A. W. Parker, 240 

" Ida, 76 

" Messenger, 85 



232 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

Tons. 

Schooner Clio, 41 

" Roanoke, 63 

" J. C. Chace, 60 

" S. L. Crocker, 82 

" Wild Pigeon, ' 420 

" N. H. Skinner, 299 

" C. C. Smith, 97 

" J. W. Belle, 82 

" Wm Mason, 465 



10,193 



It will be seen that the aggregate number is 43, and the 
tonnage amounts to 10,193 tons ; while the number of ves- 
sels in the former days was 12, and the tonnage 380 tons. 

A large and heavy wholesale grain, flour, coal and iron 
business is now prosecuted here, and quite a variety of 
manufactories border the streets which are doing a heavy 
business. 

For the account of the buildings and vessels owned at the 
Weir in the former days, we are indebted to a sketch fur- 
nished by the late Capt. Seth Presbrey in 1853. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 233 



ARTICLE XXV 



MODERN TIMES. 



Our last article left ns at the Weir bridge, where we pro- 
posed to close our brief and imperfect sketches of persons, 
buildings, and their localities in the past. In this article we 
shall give some of the more prominent and important 
changes, which have occurred since the time of which we 
have written. Beginning at the Weir, on the road leading 
to the Neck of Land, avc find that there have been erected 
on this street twelve dwelling houses, a majority of which 
are large, handsome two-story buildings. Following the 
street until we reached the four-corners at the meeting 
house common, including a court running from the road to 
the river, we find the city school house and some twenty 
dwelling houses have been erected. And the ancient burial 
ground has been renovated and repaired, with an iron fence 
in front. 

When this school house was dedicated in 1851 the as- 
sembled wisdom of the city gathered in honor of the occa- 
sion, and many eloquent addresses were made by the clergy 
and others. The following is an extract from the opening 
of the poem read at that time : 
30 



234 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

"Once more we gather with our hearts elate, 
Freedom's broad temple here to consecrate, 
To Learning, Wisdom, Science and Truth ! 
To the glad training of the rising youth. 
Who in future time— year after year- 
May gather in to glean a harvest here ; — 
To all that elevates the human soul. 
To all that spurn Oppression's foul control ; 
To Liberty, Religion, Progress and Reform,— 
To that true spirit, (heedless of the storm)— 
Which plants its breast, a bulwark strong, and deep. 
When error's tempests, dark'ning round us sweep ; 
To all that swells, electrifies, inspires. 
The heart with Freedom's never dying fires ; 
To these, and every principle of good. 
We dedicate this house in gratitude. 

Long may it prove true Learning's highest seat, 
Long may our youth together here compete. 
In classic battles, striving more and more. 
To win the prize of Wisdom's richest lore ;— 
Here may they in life's early morning hours, 
Gather those bright imperishable flowers, • 
From the old Gardens of the glorious past. 
Whose fadeless petals shall forever last ; 
Sending their perfumes over land and seas 
Though crusted with the dust of centuries. 
Here may they congregate, in cohorts strong, 
Plucking the gems of science and of song. 
Ranging broad fields of intellectual bowers 
To gather strength for their unfolding powei'S. 
Blest by the bounties of God's liberal hand. 
Nurseries like these are rising through our land ; 
Within whosewalls by Priest-craft yet unstained 
Our children still in freedom's light are trained. 
No despots with their perjury and crime 
Can germinate their seeds in this free clime, 
, Ours is the soul for liberty alone ; 
No tyrant here can rear his bloody throne, 
While temples such as this around us rise 
Pointing their spires like beacons to the skies." 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 2'66 

At the four-corners the fine residence of Mr. Rait and 
Judge Fox, the Richmond and the Leonard houses, and the 
stone church have been built, and on Spring street the ele- 
gant houses of Mr. F. B. Dean and George A. Field, and 
on the south of the common four dwelling houses and the 
Academy. Opposite, on the east. Chestnut street has been 
opened, on either side of which, at the corners, we have Mr. 
Maltby's and Mr. Church's residences, lind the late Mr. 
Lovering's on Dean street, and on Chestnut street, Mr. A. 
K. Williams' residence and four other dwelling houses. And 
on Main street we have the splendid City Hall, and Leon- 
ard's block on one side and Mr. Skinner's brick stores on 
the other side. Union street has been opened and filled with 
handsome residences. Cedar street has also been opened, 
and the stone chapel with many fine residences have been 
built. Following Main street, most of the old stores and< 
buildings on either side remain, with many alterations, un- 
til the Gilmore and Stanley block is reached, fronting Main 
and Trescott street. At the head of Trescott street stands 
the fine mansion of Lovett Morse, Esq., and in the imme- 
diate vicinity there are many dwelling houses. Beyond the 
Gilmore 'and Stanley block, with the exception of the old 
fire-proof Tisdale house and the Foundry store, the buildings 
are all new and built of brick, among which is the Babbitt 
block, the Seabury store, and that of White & Child, also 
the Machinists' and Taunton Banks. School street, run- 
ning between the White & Child and the Seabury blocks, 
was opened by Crocker & Richmond when the White & 
Child store, then called the new store, was builK This 
street contains the city building for engines and stables, and 
the fire alarm. Also one of the public school houses, and 



236 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON 

is embellished with many private dwellings on either side, 
some of them of quite pretentious appearance. On the op- 
posite side of the street, commencing at the Morey block, 
the buildings have all been erected reachiog to the corner of 
the Weir road ; among which is the block upon the old 
Brewer site, and the fine Union block. This street has 
been swept on both sides twice by disastrous fires, consum- 
ing nearly all the buildings, and consequently they have 
been twice replaced. Around the Green the former build- 
ings have been removed, with the exception of the Fales & 
Seabury store (now occupied as a market,) and the Morton 
house. On the Green, and its borders, the new buildings 
are the Court House, the houses built by Mr. West and Mr. 
Crocker, the City Hotel, and a small office. The old Pad- 
elford house is still standing, having been removed to the 
rear of its former site. On the street running north we 
have Jones' block, the Savings Bank, the stone meeting 
house, and various fine buildings beyond, includiug the im- 
posing structure of the late Judge Morton. On the corner 
of Weir street is the Field block, the Washburn block, the 
Dunbar & Crossman block, the Bristol County Bank, the 
Sumner building, and on Winthrop street the Galligan 
block, Market Hall, and other buildings until Mr. Mason's 
house is reached. Returning on the other side, the entire 
distance is also covered with fine dwelling houses, and among 
which stands the Baptist meeting house, an imposing and 
beautiful structure, and also the Porter Britannia Co.'s 
buildings. In Westminster also, stands the large and splen- 
did Episcopal church, the brick Grammar school house, and 
the Methodist church, with new houses on both sides of the 
street. From the four-corners, on the road leadino^ to the 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 237 

Green, stauds the Wiaslow church ; and in the Court many 
dwelling liouses, and the gas works. Beyond the church is 
Music Hall, and beyond that the Crocker block, near the 
stone bridge. Returning to the four-corners, on the oppo- 
site side of the street, the livery stable and the houses in 
Mattison's Court, and the buildings opposite Music Hall 
have been built, the others are of the olden days. From the 
four-corners,* running west, most of the buildings on either 
side of the street, including the works of Mason & Co., the 
Taunton Locomotive Co.'s works, the stone depot, and the 
buildings connected with the same, the car works, the Eagle 
Mill have been built, and a large village (containing many 
fine dwellings) has sprung up like magic on the new streets 
opened in that vicinity. I have endeavored to give the more 
prominent buildings which have been built, but may have 
omitted some, as 1 find it more difficult to place the new 
buildings than those of the past. 

Since the time of which we write, nearly all of the old 
buildings composing Main street, and surrounding the Green, 
have passed away from the centre to the circumference, the 
areas have been filled until from a little hamlet, or villao-e, 
containing some three, or, perhaps four thousand people, we 
have increased until we have become a city of some twenty 
thousand inhabitants. And our manufactures have steadily 
gtown with our increase until thej' have rivaled in their 
production and variety most others in the State. In conse- 
(luence of this, perhaps, we are rarely greeted now with the 
old subject of ''Taunton, good Lord," where brick and her- 
rings abound and the water is too weak too run down hill. 
This salutation in days past, when given by any one during 
"herring time" — as the season of catchin,2j was called — was 



238 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

always responded to with much dignity and independence, 
not to say indignation. But as the response was stereotyped, 
and was also clouded by a few words of profanity, we omit 
giving it here. 

In this article, which completes a year since the com- 
mencement of the Reminiscences, our work is brought to its 
close. When we commenced writing these slight and im- 
perfect recollections of the past, we did not suppose that the 
numbers would exceed a dozen or twenty ; but during the 
progress of the work many dormant recollections have 
awakened, and forgotten scenes, circumstances and expe- 
riences have come to the front. Thus the work has grown 
upon our hands until we fear it may have lost some interest, 
which otherwise possibly it might have had. But such as 
it is we leave it to the public and the gleaners of reminiscen- 
ces of the future. In our next article we shall take a final 
leave of our readers, in some reflections incident to the com- 
position of these papers, together with some moral specula- 
tions of our own touching the relations and experiences of 
the battle of life, by way of improvement, or otherwise, as 
the case may be. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 239 



ARTICLE XXVI. 



CONCLUSION. 

Having closed our notices of Taunton, its localities, build- 
ings, business and people, as they existed some sixty years 
agone, we have naturally been compelled by this review of 
the past to indulge in a few reflections, which the memories 
of the auld lang syne have suggested. To live over the 
morning of life, with all its beautiful scenes and enchant- 
ments, to mingle once more with the companions of our 
youth and childhood, to enter again, free and fresh-hearted, 
into all those experiences and pleasures which give such a 
zest and rapture to the young, touches the tenderest suscep- 
tibilities and awakens the sweetest emotions of our nature, 
although»tinged with the melancholy reflection that they can 
never again be realized. Looking back through the half 
century which has past, and scanning the changes which the 
lapse of many years must necessarily make and have made, 
we cannot fail to be profoundly impressed with the uncer- 
tainty and mutability of all things connected with the earth 
life and the certainty and persistency with which old Time 
follows his beaten track adown the eternity of the ages, 
strewing his pathway with the countless wrecks and ruins of 
his disintegrating and wasting footsteps. 



240 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

In looking through the sixty years of change and expe- 
rience, with which our review has again made us familiar, a 
thousand pleasant memories have been awakened, and many 
days, months and years of the long ago, redolent with the 
sunshine and happiness of youth, have spread their spark- 
ling pictures upon the camera of memory. And although 
many of these scenes and experiences are tinged with the 
unavoidable clouds of sorrow and disappointment, still time 
and distance serve to soften and sweeten the recollections of 
the past, which once more awaken emotions which touch the 
heart with melancholy pleasure. True it is that we find 
ourselves, as it were, standing on the threshold of the other 
life, while nearly all of the elderly and the middle-aged 
classes, and most of our own friends and companions, have 
passed on to the experiences and employments of the beau- 
tiful beyond. The true and tried, the near and dear, with 
whom we commenced the morning of life, with whom we 
mingled in its manifold pleasures and enjoyments, and to 
w^hom our hearts were bound with the golden chains of 
friendship and love, are with us in the form no more. But 
still they are with us in spirit, and ever near just in propor- 
tion as we cultivate our inner life and its intuitions, and we 
need not mourn so deeply their absence in the form, provi- 
ded we develop and expand continually the interior powers 
and capacities of our spiritual natures. The spiritual world 
surrounds the natural world, as we believe, and the two are 
not very far apart. Realizing this proposition to be true, 
time and space are to some extent annihilated, and the past, 
the present and Ihe future blend together, and we feel that 
the life eternal has already begun, while death (which real- 
ly should be welcomed as an angel of good tidings instead 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 241 

of being feared as the king of terrors) has no further power 
over ns, excepting the dissolution which it causes between 
the spiritual and material bodies. As it has been truly said, 
we know that death has been in the world — the one skele- 
ton by the fireside, the one dark closet in the corner of life, 
the one terror that seer, philosopher and preacher have 
sought to overcome. We know how it abides in the thought 
of the young. We know in maturer years t.he cheek blanch- 
es at the thought of death, unless accompanied by a loftier 
motive of love or patriotism. We know that martyrs and 
saints have triumphed over it because of the consciousness 
of spiritual life beyond, and because of the faith and fervor 
that has upheld and sustained them. Make death not a 
demon of darkness, not a fiend of terror, not a skeleton 
clothed in armor that comes to attack the world and slay 
humanity ; but rather the fruition of life, the blossoming out 
of existence here, the continuation of growth of the tree, the 
shedding abroad of the leaves and the branches that have 
been cultured here in obscurity and darkness, and you have 
a moral lever in the world that no religious zeal nor fire 
can exceed, that patriotism cannot, with its spasmodic ex- 
pressi(m, equal, and that only love divine and perfect can 
excel in any degree. 

DEATH— THE FRUITION OF LIFE. 

Alas ! for the fetters that mourners wear, 

And alas ! for the biu-dens that faint hearts ])car, 

And the haunting sorrow and hungry care, 

And the life that has grown so weaiy ; 
For there is no "Death," though the valley is deep, 
And the eyes are fastened in cruel sleep. 
And the lips cannot comfort those who weep, 

And the home has become so dreary. 
31 



242 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



But across the valley we all must go, 
To the sound of music so sad and slow, 
To the sound of farewells so faint and low. 

Yet where welcomes mingle with sighing ; 
For the angel of death is kind and true, 
And tenderly beckons the faint heart through 
Where the way is dark, from the old to the new, 

The beautiful home of the dying. 

One moment of shrinking, of sweet surprise, 
"When the poor lids droop o'er the sightless eyes, 
Then voices of angels, "Awake! arise!" 

And a whisper of loved ones calling ; 
A whisper so gentle, so sweet, so clear. 
Like the voices of the absent, but ever dear, 
Like the music that steals on the inward ear, 

When the shadows of night are falling. 

And the eyes that were blind at last can see. 
And the secret is told, and the soul is free. 
And the spirit has gained its libert}^ 

Which inheres in all things purely. 
What greetings from friends of the years gone by I 
What welcomes from lost ones for whom we sigh ! 
Who have seemed so far, yet who are so nigh. 

Not lost, but ours securely. 

Ah, me ! to that country who would not go, 

To the light and the love that draws us so. 

That, dreaming no more, we might see and know. 

With our doubts no more debating ? 
But the task of to-day must first be done, 
And the battle of life must be fought and won, 
And heaven on earth must be begun, 

While the quiet heart stands waiting. 



Entertaining these views, altliongli standing in the front 
rank of the onter verge of the earth life, we need fear no 
evil, but should hold ourselves ever ready for the change 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 243 

awaiting us with resigned and cheerful hearts. Of course, 
in looking back through the dim vista of the far away past, 
and finding that of the young companions of our happy 
school-boy days all have passed the shadowy shore except- 
ing four, one of whom long since removed to a distant State, 
it is impossible that a feeling of sorrow and regret should 
not move the heart. But still we can travel on to the inevi- 
table hour cheerfully if well grounded in the faith that life, 
both here and hereafter, hath its just compensations for all. 
Many pleasant memories which might never again have 
been awakened, and many bright and happy years, with 
their beautiful scenes and experiences, have once more 
passed before our vision, and again brought home to our 
bosom the hopes, the joys and the sorrows of the days that 
are no more, in consequence of the review of the past nec- 
essary for the composition of these imperfect ''Reminiscen- 
ces." To the young reader they, of course, will prove more 
or less dull and uninteresting ; to the aged, whose recollec- 
tions run parallel with those of the writer, they will be more 
or less pleasant and interesting ; and to those who may, half 
a century or more hereafter, review the records of the past 
in search of reminiscences, they may possibly prove still 
more interesting and valuable, serving as landmarks to 
guide them on the way. To the wTiter, they have served 
to make the otherwise weary and monotonous hours of con- 
finement and impaired health pass more pleasant and agreea- 
bly. 

As o'er Time's sea our barks sail on, 
While slowly sinks life's setting sun — 
How beautiful the past appears ! 
Its days of sunshine, joys and tears ; 
The golden hours of life's first years ; 



244 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

We see the earlier daj^s of youth 
Pictured in cameras of truth ; 
Life's radiant visions of the soul 
As when they held the heart's control, 
And when life's waning shadows rise 
Hope's star shines brighter in the skies, 
Tinging the last faint twilight ray 
TLat closes here life's fitful day. 
Farewell, farewell, oh ! happier days, 
Still sparkling in life's morning rays ; 
Far, far behind, our beaten track 
Grows faint and dim as we gaze back. 
From time's broad sea whereon we sail, 
Awaiting still the welcome hail ! 
That calls us to the happier shore. 
Where death and sorrow come no more. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 245 



JirPENJDIJ^. 



The editor is iudebted to Mrs. Hartshorn, the widow of 
the late Jesse Hartshorn, a highly respected citizen of the 
town, for the following; full and correct order and list of the 
houses on Dean street at the time treated of. 

Beginning at the Raynham line, were the following d well- 
ins: houses on Dean street : 



First, on the western side was the house of Jol) King; on the opposite, 
the eastern side, was the house of Nathaniel Williams. 

Second, on the western side, the next house was that of George Dean. 

The third house on the same side was that of James Dean. 

The fourth house on the same side was that of Ebenezer Hall. 

The fifth Avas that of Perez Hall. 

The sixth was that of Joseph Hall. 

The seventh was that of William Robinson. It stood back in the lot 
and was occupied by Jacob and Elijah White. 

The eighth Avas that of Increase Robinson. 

The ninth was that of Scth Dean. 

The tenth was that of Elkanah Dean.* 

The eleventh was that of Charles Dean. 

Between the two last named houses, but further back from the street, 
was a very old house, the original one built by Walter Dean ; soon after 
torn down. 

The twelfth was that of Abiczer Dean. 

The thirteenth was that of Abiel F. Dean. 

The fourteenth. Next after that of Abiel Dean and quite near to it, 
stood the house of David Dean, quite old, with diamond shape panes of 



246 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



glass, one-story high and close to the street. It remained there till abont 
fifty years ago. 

The fifteenth. Next after that of David's came John Danforth's house, 
which stood where the Old Colony Railroad is now, and was moved to 
near M'here Dr. Hubbard's house now is to make room for William 
Woodward to build his two-story house with brick ends. 

The sixteenth was that of Solomon Dean, near the brook. 

Seventeenth. On the lot at the corner of Ashland street, now owned 
by A. W. Williams, Esq., but some distance back from the road, stood 
an old unoccupied house, torn down soon after, whose last tenant, by 
name of Wilbur, was buried on the lot, it was said at his request, to keep 
the boys from stealing the apples in his orchard. The house was report- 
ed to have been haunted. 

Eighteenth. After John Neil's, at the top of the hill, came the house 
of Ma'am Wilbur, who kept a school. 

Nineteenth. On the east side of the street, near the river, there was 
an old unoccupied house, soon after removed. 



THE STARS AND THE EARTH. 

By way of variety, and for the purpose of furnishing the 
sedate, metaphysical, and elderly reader with something 
substantial for mental digestion, we propose to give them a 
few extracts from the little work of a Rev. friend, whose 
name is unknown to the public. This book is called ''The 
Stars and the Earth," and the contents will be found both 
profitable, pleasant and instructive for old and young. 

THE STARS AND THE EARTH. 

"It is a well known proposition, that a luminous body 
arising at a certain distance from an observer cannot be per- 
ceived in the very same instant in which it becomes lumin- 
ous, but that a period of time, although infinitely short, ex- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 247 

ists whilst the light, our only medium of vision, passes 
through the space between the object and our eyes. 

The rate at which the light travels is so exceedingly rap- 
id, that it certainly has never been observed, nor have any 
attempts to measure it been made, in the insignificant dis- 
tances at which objects on the earth are visible to us. But 
since we see bodies at a distance immeasurably greater than 
the compass of terrestrial dimensions (namely, in viewing 
the stars above), the most acute calculations and observa- 
tions have enabled astronomers to measure the speed of 
light, and to find that it travels at a rate of about 213,000 
miles in a second. This number is not quite accurate ; but 
as we now only propose to lay down a general idea, for 
which the close reckoning of astronomical calculation is not 
necessary, we will content ourselves here, and in the follow- 
ing pages, with adducing a general average number. 

Thus light travels 213,000 miles in a second ; and as the 
moon is 240,000 miles distant, it follows that, when the 
first narrow streak of the moon emerges from the shadow of 
an eclipse, nearly a second and a quarter elapses before we 
see it; for the light takes this time to pass from the moon 
to our eyes. 

The moon, therefore, makes each of her changes a second 
and a quarter before it becomes visible to us.* 

The sun, 95,000,000 of miles distant, 400 times farther 
than the moon, requires a period 400 times longer than the 
moon, (i. e. four hundred times five quarters of a second) 
to send its light upon our earth. Hence, when any changes 
take place in the sun, when, for instance, a solar spot creeps 
round the eastern limb, about eight minutes elapse before 

*We take no notice of the refraction of liffht. 



248 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

the light reaches our eyes ; and the spot remams visible to 
us eight minutes after it has passed behind the western 
limb. 

The distance of the planet Jupiter from our earth, at the 
time when it is the greatest, is nearly six hundred and sev- 
enteen millions of miles. This is six times and a half as 
great as the distance of the sun, and therefore the light re- 
quires fifty-two minutes to penetrate from Jupiter to us. 
Lastly, Uranus runs his solitary course at a distance of 
eighteen hundred millions of miles from us ; his light re- 
quires, therefore, twenty times as long a period to travel to 
us as that of the sun, i. e. more than two hours ; so that for 
two hours, he has been past that point of his orbit in which 
we see him. 

No planet has hitherto been discovered more distant 
than *Uranus ; but an infinite space exists beyond, separat- 
ing our sun and its system of planets from the nearest fixed 
stars. 

The distance of the fixed stars from our earth was, until 
a veiy recent time when the measurements of Struve and 
Bessel were crowned with such glittering results, a deep, 
inscrutable secret ; but now we know that the nearest fixed 
star in the constellation of Centaur is about eighteen bil- 
lions of miles distant. Its rays of light therefore penetrate 
to us in about three years ; that is, the ray of light which 
meets our eyes from this star was not developed and emitted 
at the same moment, but three years ago. 

Struve has calculated, with respect to the bright star 
Vega, in the constellation of the Lyre, that its light con- 

*Since this was written a planet has been discovered at nearly double 
the distance of Uranus from the sun. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 249 

sumes twelve years and one month in reaching the earth ; 
and, according to the measurements of Harding, and the 
inquiries of recent astronomers, the following numbers have 
been deduced as the average distance of the fixed stars from 

us : 

A ray of light requires, before it reaches the earth from 
a star of the 1st magnitude, 3 to 12 years. 



2d 


3 to 20 


3d 


3 to 30 


4th 


3 to 45 


5th " 


3 to 66 


6th 


3 to 96 


7th 


3 to 180 



Moreover, Struve from the dimensions of his telescope, 
and from the observation of the fact that a star of the 
twelfth magnitude, seen through it, has as much light as a 
star of the sixth magnitude seen with the naked eye, con- 
cludes that the distance of a star of the twelfth magnitude is 
forty-one times greater than that of one of the sixth mao-ni- 
tude, and consequently, that the smallest of these stars visi- 
ble to him is at a distance of twenty-three thousand billions 
of miles, and requires a period of time for the travelling of 
the light to the earth, as great as four thousand years. That 
is, the ray of light from a star of the twelfth magnitude, 
which we may mention is only pei-ceptible. by means of a 
very good telescope, has, at the time it* meets our eyes, al- 
ready left the star four thousand years, and since that time 
has wandered on in its course, unconnected with its origin. 

We have hitherto confined our considerations to our sys- 
tem of fixed stars ; and we will not at present overstep this 
limit, although it would be easy, were we to enter into 
hypotheses, to multiply indefinitely these enormous propor- 
tions hitherto adduced. 
32 



250 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 

Accordiug to a conjecture first made by the great Her- 
schel, and afterwards further developed and rendered intel- 
ligible by Madler, this entire system of fixed stars forms, if 
we may use the expression, a single lense-shaped canopy. 
That is, we, with our sun, are situated nearly in the middle 
of a space, having the form of two watch-glasses, placed 
with the concave surfaces towards each other. The sur- 
faces of this canopy are studded tolerably equally with fixed 
stars. But as w^e are -a thousand times nearer those situat- 
ed above and below than those at the edges of this hollow 
lense, so the distances between the stars immediately above 
us seem greater whilst the legions of those distributed at the 
edge are seen in densely crowded masses. We may consider 
the "milky way" as the edge and furthermost limit of this 
set of fixed stars, where the infinitely distant crowds of stars 
are collected in such masses that their light flows together 
into a whitish cloud, and no longer permits us to isolate one 
star from another. 

Beyond this^ our lenss Herschel and the most recent as- 
tronomers imagine that the spots of clouds which appear 
like oval flakes in the sky are other entirely distinct and in- 
dependent systems, which float at such an immeasurable 
distance from us that the light has to wander millions of 
years in reaching us.. 

It is, however, as we before remarked, sufficient for our 
purpose to take into consideration only the stars of the 
twelfth magnitude, from which the light can travel to us in 
four thousand years. From what we have already said, 
viz : that the ray of light meeting our eye is not sent forth 
from the star at the same moment, but arrives here accord- 
ing to the corresponding and requisite number of seconds, 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON, 251 

minutes, or years, it follows that we do not see the star as 
it is, but as it was at the time ^vhea the ray of light was 
emitted. 

Thus, we see the star in Centaur as it was three years 
ago ; Vega as it was twelve years and one month ago, and 
so on to the star of the twelfth magnitude, which we look 
upon as it w^as four thousand years ago. Hence follows the 
conclusion which has frequently been made by astronomers, 
and which in its result has become popular, viz : That a 
star of the twelfth magnitude may have been extinguished 
or set four thousand years ago, whilst we, nevertheless, 
continue to see its light shining. 

This conclusion when applied to each of the former po- 
sitions, gives the following results : We do not see the 
moon as it is, but as it was a second and a quarter before ; i. e. 
the moon may already have been dispersed into atoms for 
more than a second, and we should still see it entire and 
perfect. 

We do not see the sun as it now is, but as it was eight 
minutes before ; Jupiter as it was fifty-two minutes ; Uranus 
as it was more than two hours before ; the star in Centaur 
as it was three years ago ; Vega as it was over twelve 
years ago, and a star of the twelfth magnitude as it was four 
thousand years ago. 

These propositions are well-known, and have already 
been published in popular works upon astronomy. 

It is really marvellous that nobody has thought of revers- 
ing them, and of drawing the very remarkable and aston- 
ishing conclusions which pour upon us in a full stream from 
the converse ; and it is our intention here to examine the 
converse, and the inferences which may thence be drawn. 



252 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

The following is the relative view of the matter. As we 
have before remarked, we see the disc of the moou, not iu 
the form in which it now is, but as it was five quarters of a 
second before the time of observation. 

In exactly the same way an imagmary observer in the 
moon would not see the earth as it was at the moment of 
observation, but as it was five quarters of a second before. 
An observer from the sun sees the earth as it was eight 
minutes before. From Uranus the time between the reality 
and the perception by the eye being two hours and a half 
apart — if, for an example, the summit of the Alps on a cer- 
tain morning was illumined by the first ray of the sun at 
six o'clock, an observer in this planet, who was provided 
with the requisite power of vision or a sufficiently good tel- 
escope, would see this indication of the rising of the sun at 
half past eight of our time. 

An observer iu Centaur can, of course, never see the 
northern hemisphere of the earth, because this constellation 
never rises above our horizon. But supposing it possible, 
and that an observer were standing in this star with such 
powerful vision as to be able to distinguish all particulars 
upon our little earth, shining but feebly luminous in its bor- 
rowed light, he would see, in the year 1843, the public il- 
luminations which, in the year 1840, made the cities of our 
native country shine with the brightness of day, during the 
darkness of night. An observer in Vega would see what 
happened with us twelve years ago ; and so on, until an in- 
habitant of a star of the twelfth magnitude, if w^e imagine 
him with unlimited power of vision contemplating tlie earth, 
sees it as it was 4000 years ago, when Memphis was founded, 
and the patriarch Abraham wandered upon its surface. 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 253 

In the immeasurably great number of fixed stars which 
are scattered about in the universe, floating in ether at a 
distance of between fifteen and twenty billions of miles from 
us, reckoning backwards any given number of years, doubt- 
less a star could be found which sees the past epochs of our 
earth as if existing now^, or so nearly corresponding to the 
time, that the observer need w^ait no long time to see its 
conditions at the required moment. 

Let us here stop for a moment to make one of the infer- 
ences to be drawn from these propositions which, we have 
laid down, and w^iich are so clear and evident to every rea- 
sonable mind. 

We have here a perfectly intelligible perception of the 
idea of the omniscience of God with relation to past events. 
If we imagine the Deity as a man, with human powers, but 
in a far superior degree, it will be easy for us to attribute 
to Him the faculty and power of really overlooking and dis- 
cerning, even in the most minute particulars, everything 
which may be sensibly and actually overlooked and seen 
from a real point of observation. 

Thus, if we wish to comprehend how any past earthly 
deed or occurrence, even after thousands of years, is as dis- 
tinctly and inmiediately in God's presence as if it were ac- 
tually taking place before his eyes, it is sufficient for our 
purpose to imagine Him present at a certain point, at which 
the light and the reflection of the circumstance is just arriv- 
ing. 

Supposing that this result is established, omniscience 
with respect to the past becomes identical and one and the 
same thing with actual omnipresence with regard to space. 
For, if we imagine the eye of God present at every point of 



254 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

space, the whole course of the history of the world appears 
to Him immediately and at once. That which occurred on 
earth eight minutes before is glancing brightly, and evident- 
ly in His sight, in the sun. Upon the star of the twelfth 
magnitude, occurrences which have passed away four thou- 
sand years, are seen by Him ; and iu the intermediate points 
of space are the pictures of the events which have happened 
in every moment since. 

Thus we have the extension of Time, which corresponds 
with that of Space, brought so near to our sensible percep- 
tion that time and space cannot be considered as at all dif- 
ferent from one another. For those things which are con- 
secutive, one to the other, in point of time, lie next to one 
another in space. The effect does not follow after the cause, 
but it exists visible in space, near it ; and a picture has 
spread itself out before us, embracing space and time to- 
gether, and representing both so entirely and at once that 
we are no longer able to separate or distinguish the exten- 
sion of space from that of time. 

The omniscience of God, with regard to the past, has be- 
come intelligible and easy to us as a sensible and material 
all-surveying vievv. Before His eyes, endued with immeas- 
urable powers of sight, the picture of past thousands of 
years is at the present moment actually extended in space. 
Hence, when we imagine the purely human sense of sight 
rendered more extended and acute, we are able actually to 
comprehend one of the attributes of the Deity. 

But according to the reverse the excellence of this human 
sense becomes clear to us if we have by this time understood 
that it only requires an increased optical and mechanical 
intensity of it to communicate, at least by approximation, a 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 255 

divine power, viz., omuiscieuce with regard to the past, to 
beings endowed with such exalted powers of vision. 

Having drawn this clear and intelligible inference from 
the previous considerations, let us take a step further in ad- 
vance. But since from this point the ideas of possibility 
and impossibility must be frequently referred to, it is nece»- 
sary that we and our readers mutually understand each 
other on this subject. We call that possible which does not 
contradict the laws of thought ; we call that impossible which 
contradicts these laws. Hence, every ultimate accomplish- 
ment of a human discovery is possible. But it is impossible 
to reach the limit which can only be obtained on such sup- 
positions as are themselves impossible, according to the 
foregoing definition. For an example, it is possible to pass 
through any given definite space in any fixed and definite 
period of time. For as with a steam-carriage we can travel 
a geographical mile in a few minutes, and with the electric 
telegraph can ring a bell at a distance of miles in a second, 
so the supposition that we may be enabled to move from 
one place to another with a speed far surpassing the rapid- 
ity of light rests upon possibility. We repeat that practi- 
cally and experimentally such a result will never be arrived 
at, and require simply that the following be allowed : If we 
show that something which hitherto existed only in a dream, 
or in the imagination of the enthusiastic, can appear attain- 
able and real, but has only such impediments as arise from 
inability to render perfect certain known mechanical powers, 
and to move from one place to another with sufficient rapid- 
ity ; I say that when we have shown this the question is 
transferred from the jurisdiction of dreams and enthusiasm 
to the jurisdiction of that species of possibility which does 



256 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

not contradict the laws of thought. For example, the ques- 
tion whether there is such a bird as the phoenix belongs to 
the dominion of dreams and folly. 

But, I say, if, supposing it were possible for us to prove 
that this bird actually were living in the centre of the earth, 
or below the depths of the ocean ; and if this evidence were 
perfectly accurate, lucid and irrefutable, then indeed it 
would be impossible for us to see this bird with our bodily 
eyes ; but now that the impediments Avhich oppose the real- 
ization of the sio;ht are clearly and intelligibly demonstrated, 
we may proceed to our purpose of contriving mechanical 
means to overcome them in the present instance. 

Thus, a question hitherto only referable to the region of 
ideas, dreams and enthusiasm, being brought to such a 
point, is placed quite in another and much nearer district ; 
viz., under the dominion of Avhat we above designated as 
possible. We must not here forget that this possibility is 
not to be mistaken for experimental practicability, and not 
to be looked upon in reference to its execution being attain- 
ed at any time ; but it simply bears upon the question, inas- 
much as ideas which are, as it were, overcome and now out 
of the region of empty thought into this district of possibili- 
ty, are now brought nearer to our immediate perception, 
(be it well observed, perception, and not practicability), and 
are thus raised out of mere cloudy and feverish fancies into 
intelligible ideas. I now continue in the supposition that I 
have hitherto made myself perfectly understood by the read- 
ers ; that the idea of possibility which I have laid down has 
as little to do with dreams, as it has, on the other side, with 
the question of practicability. With this idea we maintain 
that it is possible, i. e. not in contradiction to the laws of 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 2bl 

thought, that a man may travel to a star in a given time ; 
and that he may effect this, provided witli so powerful a tel- 
escope as to be able to overcome every given distance, and 
every light and shadow in the object to be examined. With 
this supposition, and with the aid of a knowledge of the 
position and distance of every given fixed star (to be attain- 
ed by the study of astronomy) , it will be possible to recall 
sensibly to our very eyes an actual and true representation 
of every moment of history that has passed. 

If, for instance, we wish to see Luther before the council 
at Worms, we must transport ourselves in a second to a fix- 
ed star, from which the light requires about three hundred 
years (or so much more or less) in order to reach the earth. 
Thence the earth will appear in the same state and with the 
same persons moving upon it, as it actually was at the time 
of the Reformation. 

To the view of an observer from another fixed star, our 
Savior appears now upon eartli performing his miracles and 
ascending into Heaven ; and thus every moment which has 
passed during the lapse of centuries down to the present time 
may be actually recalled so as to be present. 

Thus the universe incloses the pictures of the past, like 
an indestructible and incorruptible record containing the 
purest and clearest truth. And as sound propagates itself 
in the air, wave after wave, and the stroke of the bell or the 
roar of the cannon is heard only by those who stand nearest 
in the same moment when the clapper strikes the bell or the 
powder explodes, but each more distant spectator remarks a 
still greater interval between the light and the sound, until 
the human ear is no longer able to perceive the sound on 
account of the distance ; or, to take a still clearer example, 
33 



258 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

as thunder and lightning are in reality simultaneous, but in 
the storm the distant tlmnder follows at the interval of some 
minutes after the flash, so, in like manner, according to our 
ideas, the pictures of every occurrence propagate themselves 
into the distant ether upon the wings of the ray of light, 
and although they become weaker and smaller, yet in im- 
measurable distance they still have color and form ; and as 
everything possessing color and form is visible, so must 
these pictures also be said to be visible, however impossible 
it may be for the human eye to perceive it with the hitherto 
discovered optical apparatus. It is, besides, for the same 
reasons, the greatest rashness to wish to determine before- 
hand the limits beyond which tlie perfection of our optical 
instruments may never step. Who could have guessed at 
the wonderful results which have been discovered by means 
of Herschel's telescope and Ehremberg's microscope? We 
do not, however, require its practicability, nor even an in- 
dication that it is to be hoped for, since w^e have before ex- 
plained to the reader the idea which we intend to convey un- 
der the word possible^ and we wish only to move in the re- 
gions of possibility of this kind. Thus that record Avhich 
spreads itself out further and further in the universe by the 
vibration of the light, really and actually exists and is visi- 
ble, but to eyes more pow^erful than those of man. 

The pictures of all secret deeds which have ever been 
transacted remain indissolubly and indelibly forever, reach- 
ing from one sun beyond another. Not only upon the floor 
of the chamber is the blood-spot of murder indelibly fixed, but 
the deed glances further and further into the spacious heavens. 

At this moment is seen, in one of the stars, the image of 
the cradle from which Caspar Hauser was taken to be in- 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 259 

closed in a living tomb for so many years ; in another star 
glances the flash of the shot which killed Charles XII. But 
what need is there to refer to individual instances? It 
would be easy to carry it out to the smallest details ; but Ave 
leave this to the fancy of the reader, and only request that 
he will not scorn these images as childish, until he has gone 
through with us the very serious and important inferences 
which we will now proceed to make : 

Let us imagine an observer, with infinite powers of vis- 
ion, in a star of the twelfth magnitude. He would see the 
earth at this moment as it existed at the time of Abraham. 
Let us, moreover, imagine him moved forward in the di- 
rection of our earth with such speed that in a short time 
(say in an hour) he comes to within the distance of a hun- 
dred millioDS of miles, being then as near to us as the sun 
is, whence the earth is seen as it was eight minutes before ; 
let us imagine all this, quite apart from any claims of possi- 
bility or reality, and then we have indubitably the following 
result : that before the eye of this observer the entire his- 
tory of the world, from the time of Abraham to the present 
day, passes by in the space of an hour, for when the motiou 
commenced, he viewed the earth as it was four thousand 
years ago ; at the half way, i.e. after half an hour, as it was 
two thousand years ago ; after three-quarters of an hour, as 
it was one thousand years ago ; and after an hour, as it now is. 

We want no further proof, and it is evident beyond the 
possibility of contradiction, that if an observer were able to 
comprehend with his eye the whirling procession of these 
consecutive images, he would have lived through the entire 
history of the world, with all the events and transactions 
which have happened in the hemisphere of the globe turned 



260 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

towards him in a single hour. If we divide the hour into 
four thousand parts, so that about a second corresponds to 
each, he has seen the events of a whole year in a single 
second. They have passed before him with all the particu- 
lars, all the motions and positions of the persons occupied, 
with the entire chanj^ino^ scenerv, and he has lived throuojh 
them all — everything entire and unshortened, but only in the 
quickest succession — and one hour was for him crowded 
with quite as many events as the space of four thousand 
years upon earth. 

If we give the observer power also to halt at pleasure in 
his path as he is flying through the ether, he will be able to 
represent to himself, as rapidly as he pleases, that moment 
in the world's history which he wishes to observe at leisure, 
provided he remains at a distance when this moment of his- 
tory appears to have just arrived, allowing for the time 
which the light consumes in traveling to the position of the 
observer. 

Here again, we leave to the fancy of the poet the prose- 
cution of further details, and come to the conclusions which 
we intend to make. 

As we imagine an observer from a star of twelfth magni- 
tude capable of approaching the earth in an hour, we will 
now once more suppose that he can fly through the space in 
a second ; or, like the electro-magnetic power, in an im- 
measurably short time. 

He would now live through the period of four thousand 
years with all their events completely, and as exactly, in a 
moment of time, and as he did before in the space of an hour. 

The human mind, it is true, grows giddy at the thought 
of such a consecutive train of images and events ; but we 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 261 

cau easily attribute to a higher or the highest spirit, the 
power of distinguishing and comprehending with accuracy 
every individual wave in this astonishing stveam. 

Hence, the notion that the Deity makes use of no meas- 
urement of time, is become clear and intelligible to us. 
When it is written, ''Before God a thousand years are as 
one day," it is mere empty words, unless the idea is render- 
ed perceptible to our senses. But when, as we have done, 
by sensible and actual suppositions, we are enabled to show 
that it is possible for a being simply endowed with a high 
degree of human power to live through the history of four 
thousand years in a second, we think we have materially 
contributed to render intelligible the philosophical statement, 
time is nothing existing for itself, but only the form and 
repository, without which we cannot imagine its contents, 
viz : the series of consecutive events. If time was some- 
thing real and actually existing, and necessary to the occur- 
rence of events, it would be impossible for that to take place 
in a shorter time which occurs in a longer time. But here 
we see the entire contents of four thousand years concentrat- 
ed into one second, and not mutilated or isolated, but every 
event completely surrounded with all its individual particu- 
lars and collateral circumstances. The duration of time is 
therefore unnecessary for the occurrence of events. Begin- 
ning and end may coalesce, and still enclose everything in- 
termediate. 

Having thus laid our contemplations before the reader, 
we will express a hope that the images may appear as poet- 
ical and sublime to him as to us, and that an hitherto 
unknown cleanness and insight has been given to his ideas 
of the omniscience, omnipresence, and eternity of God. 



262 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 



SOLAR AND SPIRITUAL LIGHT. 

Sunlight itself is not a substance, but is the vibration of 
subtle essences that exist in the atmosphere. The light is 
the result of such vibration. You are aware that outside of 
the earth's atmosphere there is no heat ; in all probability to 
human vision there would be no light. The solar light must 
have atmosphere to act upon, and it acts upon the atmos- 
phere in a direct line, is refracted or reflected according to 
the object which^'intervenes, and finally is absorbed into all 
the opaque bodies which the earth contains. Outside of the 
atmosphere it is not light nor heat, but it is the great breath- 
ing, vital soul of the solar universe, whose pulsations are 
only felt where there is a pole or centre, just as the beatings 
of the heart are felt in the body where the arterial or vein- 
ous systems have a pole or valve. These pulsating points 
are the planets and other heavenly bodies. 

Space goes smoothly on with her wonderfully intricate 
processes supplying the great force which the sun is to spend 
upon the planets, and giving breath which the all-pervading 
rays of the sun would too soon consume if there were no 
means of replenishing them. What you term space is the 
atmosphere of the worlds. What you term light is the con- 
suming vital force or magnetism whereby the force is con- 
verted into the thousand forms of existence, and whereby 
every leaf and tree and fibre becomes a portion of organic 
life. 

Thus while chemistry has attempted to solve the original 
properties that constitute the rays of light, and while spec- 
trum analysis has revealed a certain degree of the effects of 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 263 

those rays, and certain substances which constitute the col- 
oring mattej', the process of vibration has not yet been fully 
revealed, and it remains as a portion of the most interesting 
feature of scientific investigation to show that a certain 
number of vibrations of a single atom acted upon by the 
sun's rays will produce red, a certain other number will 
produce yellow, and a certain other number will produce 
blue ; and that the same atom can pass through all those 
changes of color without changing its intrinsic elemental ex- 
istence, that, this being the case, all seemingly fixed colors 
are only so by reason of being stamped at the exact time of 
the vibration ; hence the red rose, the white lily, the blue 
violet, are photographs caught at the very time of the vi- 
bration and stamped upon leaf and flower, when the particu- 
lar atom by attraction was drawn thither. 

The rose, and lily, and violet, have not only a chemical 
property and action which produces this color, but the ray 
itself is there at precisely a given point of vibration, and is 
stamped upon the flower. This is why the rays of light are 
held imprisoned in gems. This is why the amethyst and 
sapphire, the emerald and topaz, have each their different 
hues caught in the crystallization when the ray of light was 
in that particular state of vibration. This is why substan- 
ces that are not suspected of containing any imprisoned sun- 
beams hold in solution vermilion, the bright emerald green, 
and various other colors that can only be extracted by sub- 
tle processes. 

Thus the whole of nature becomes an immense photo- 
graphic gallery, in which one after another of the impres- 
sions of the sun's rays have been stamped rapidly and in 
quick succession, covered again and again with new pic- 



264 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

tures and new forms of life, but never once losing any por- 
tion of the original shade. 

The green goes off and the tint becomes scarlet, because 
the sun's rays have been eating away the subtle substance 
which formed the attractive property for the green, the 
mingling of the blue and yellow flame ; but after all the tint 
becomes red and fades into golden and brown, and then you 
think it has passed, but sometime out of the debris, when 
the earth's records shall be disentombed, the chemist will 
show you that every sunbeam has been preserved, and the 
very color that was supposed to be dead may be placed upon 
the artist's table. 

Thus nature, by various processes, reveals the fact that 
whatever the creative forces may be, that which is relative- 
ly created produces its own images, and the power of its 
own creation stamps its existence first upon the atom, then 
upon the leaf and tree, and finally projects itself and seeks 
for the sunlight by the property of kindred atoms. The red 
rose, the white lily, the blue violet, the yellow buttercup, 
do not simply absorb those rays from the sun that is shining 
on them the particular day that they burst into bloom, but 
in the roots of that red rose are imprisoned the rays of a 
thousand red roses that in atomic combination have slum- 
bered, and in subtle processes have awaited for the recogni- 
tion of the kindred ray and the kindred vibration. 

In this way the sun has produced its own conditions upon 
the earth, has awakened the propensity in every atom to call 
for its kind, and in every germ to ask for the particular ray 
that belongs to any special genus or class. The sun has 
awakened the propensity in the visual organ to see, has pen- 
ciled the fine walls wherein the light is imprisoned, and has 



REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 265 

Avoven tissue, cell and fibre of the optical organ out of thou- 
sands of myriads of sunbeams that have been refined and 
triturated through organic processes, until at last the man 
awakens with eyes to see the day and calls for the sunlight, 
the longing for which was imprisoned there. 



THE WORTH OF WORLDLY FAME. 

"jyho prizes the titled nobility of Great Britain or the Old 
World? Who cares for the wealth or fame that is handed 
down from father to son? Richard Cobden, John Bright, 
all the great minds that stand up and plead the cause of men, 
are those who have won the victory of life for themselves. 

Who cares for fame written upon the ancient tablets of 
any ancestral wall ? You did not fight the battles. Yours 
is not the credit for their deeds of daring. What have you 
done? The test lies here. The strength is in your own 
citadel. You have made the castle which you inhabit. 
Your spirit is there, a sluggard and a dotard, or is alive, 
alert, active, winning every day laurels that kings and 
princes might envy. It is not needful that the world shall 
see them. The soul is its own best and entire peace maker. 
The soul can understand whether the you that inhabits the 
temple of your own life is a worthy occupant. 

The victories that you have won are traced there, and 

your spirit understands them. They gleam out from your 

eyes, and they light your face, and when a man meets you 

on the street, if you do not shun his gaze, if you look at him 

34 



266 REMINISCENCES OF TAUNTON. 

with a clear and honest eye, he knows that you have van- 
quished temptation, and are not ashamed to look another 
soul in the face. Turn your gaze aside, look downward, 
and he knows that the victory is not won, and the tempter is 
still there ; that the serpent is still in the Garden of Eden, 
and that the man Christ has not taught his lesson to you, 
that God has not come to dwell in your heart. 

Oh, take up the cross of life, bear it nobly and well, with- 
out shrinking, without terror, without fear ; not St. Peter's 
at Rome, nor Westminster Abbey, nor St. Paul's in Eng- 
land, nor all the churches that line the streets of your crowd- 
ed cities, can give forth such chimes of joy and praise as go 
out from the towering height of that soul's sanctuary, where- 
in the victory has been won over selfishness and pride and 
care, by the true meaning of the cross. 



r' 



^4 



d^L 



